Home away from home or really expensive prison? Critic investigates complaints regarding hall life. PAGE 18
The freedom mission
The core of modern anarchism is not the napalm, violence and drugs that people often expect. PAGE 20
Remote – an island in a sea of startups A look inside the world
of going it alone as a young entrepreneur. PAGE 28
Issue 20
August 18, 2014 critic.co.nz
Trans life*
Navigating the complex landscape of gender remains problematic for many. pg24
Issue 20
August 18, 2014
FEATURES
NEWS & OPINION
CULTURE
2 0 | The freedom mission
3 3 | Art
They cook soup, not napalm; they respond to aggression with passive observation, not violence; the atmosphere is homely and relaxed. The setting feels like a flat, not the heart of Dunedin’s largest anarchist collective.
Following reports from past and present students from the University of Otago Halls of Residence, Critic has spoken to numerous parties to address complaints regarding hall life.
By Josie Cochrane
2 4 | Trans* life
By Lucy Hunter
2 6 | Remote – an island in a sea
1 2 | SPORT
of startups
1 4 | News In Briefs 1 6 | Politics 4 0 | Defending the Kingdom 4 2 | Science, Bitches! 4 2 | Queer Eye
When you hear the word “remote,” it doesn’t exactly conjure up feelings of prosperity, abundance and opportunity – feelings that we are told to look for in our chosen career paths. However, for some of us, not putting on suitable office attire (or even pants) and logging on from the comfort of our homes is a reality.
4 4 | LEtters
FEATURE WRITER
Zane Pocock
Lucy Hunter
news / OUSA Editor
chief reporter
Josie Cochrane
Laura Munro
features Editor
news Team
Loulou Callister-Baker
Bella Macdonald Anna Whyte Emily Draper Steph Taylor Nina Harrap
Sub Editor
Max Prestidge Technical DESIGNER
Sam Clark Designer & illustrator
Daniel Blackball
2 | Issue 20 Critic
3 7 | games
SECTION EDITORS
Daniel Lormans Carys Goodwin Sophie Edmonds
Hannah Collier Andrew Kwiatkowski Baz Macdonald Adrian Ng Laura Starling
Elsie Jacobson Sir Lloyd Queerington Sam Fleury Tohora Te Maiharoa
Contributors
Max Pocock
Te Hau White Allison Hess Kristen Stewart Sarah Ley-Hamilton Sydney Lehman Mandy Te Oscar Francis Imogen Davis Christian Hardy
Distributor Online Content Manager
Oli Cameron adVERTISING sales
Josh Hannagan Elaine Oldham Tom Tremewan
COVER:
From "Trans* life”
4 3 | Too Much Screens 4 6 | LOVE IS BLIND
Illustration: Daniel Blackball
“ “An anarchist cooking” – you may wonder – “could she be making napalm?” When Bell isn’t looking I stare down into the large pot on the donated stovetop. The red liquid looks and smells like tomato soup, not a mixture of gelling agent and petrol. Loulou Callister-Baker - The Freedom Mission
By Sarah Ley-Hamilton
Editor
Illustration: Daniel Blackball
3 6 | Food
4 0 | books
Gender identity is so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t think about it until we meet somebody who doesn’t conform to traditional ideas of a “masculine man” or a “feminine woman.” Even with advances, such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage last year, being trans* presents legal and social problems simply because their personal identity does not match our arbitrary ideas of “male” and “female.”
0 4 | NEWS
3 4 | Film
3 8 | music
By Loulou Callister-Baker
1 8 | Home away from home or really expensive prison?
above: From “The freedom mission”
Connect read online: CRITIC.CO.NZ or issuu.com/critic_te_arohi
get in touch: CRITIC@CRITIC.CO.NZ FB.COM/CRITICTEAROHI TWEET: @CRITICTEAROHI (03) 479 5335 P.O. Box 1436, Dunedin
” Critic is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA). Disclaimer: the views presented within this publication do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor, PMDL, or OUSA. Press Council: people with a complaint against a magazine should first complain in writing to the Editor and then, if not satisfied with the response, complain to the Press Council. Complaints should be addressed to the Secretary, PO Box 10-879 The Terrace, Wellington.
- PAGE 20
E D I TO R I A L
Editorial 20 Marx marks
I
"As the system currently stands, tertiary education in New Zealand is legally a privilege and not a right, which people often mistake it for."
t has always intrigued me that you can
more than I received – it’s a bit of a box-ticking
One way or the other, students are spending a
receive a barely-passing mark for an assign-
activity, to be honest. However, any feedback
fortune for education as a commoditised service.
ment and have no idea what you did wrong. I
would certainly be beneficial for my dangerously
You are literally buying it from the University.
recently got such a report back. The “Discussion”
close attempt to pass at the end of the semester.
And that purchase, more often than not, is not
section had only ticks – with a mark for the
worth the money because those supplying it
section of 13/30. Yet another section not only
The truth is, students have paid for that feedback.
simply don’t give a fuck that you paid them
had the same saturation of ticks, but also had the
It doesn’t matter if someone doesn’t have the
thousands of dollars to make the learning pro-
comment “very good,” which I chose not to see as
capacity to put in quite as much effort as one
cess easier than a Google search.
condescending. My mark for the section? 11/20.
otherwise should for a paper. Such examples as this, strangely enough, should be treated as
As the system currently stands, tertiary educa-
In fact, the only lost marks that I know how to
political alarm bells. With student loans being
tion in New Zealand is legally a privilege and not
remedy are the two (thanks, mystery marker,
a hot topic of debate going in to our looming
a right, which people often mistake it for. And so
for the lenience) subtracted for submitting the
General Election, this sort of behaviour highlights
the question I have is this: do tertiary education
assignment late. There were clearly much bigger
the disjunct between how people currently see
providers come under the Consumer Guarantees
issues at hand but I haven’t the faintest idea
tertiary education and how it’s supposed to work.
Act? Failing to offer adequate academic feedback
what they were.
Tertiary educators see it as being entirely the
certainly doesn’t fulfil the requirement that a
student’s responsibility to learn. Because, you
service is “carried out with reasonable care,”
Now, my job here at Critic is relatively intense
know, it seems that most people are expected to
as the Act requires.
so I’m under no misled ideal that I’m going to be
go to Uni. This is fair, to some degree, but look at
an excellent student while I polish off a token
the student loan you can expect to have acquired
Zane Pocock
final paper. I’m not realistically aiming for much
by the time you finish your degree. It’s insane.
Critic Editor
Critic Issue 20 | 3
NEWS
Disabled student mistaken as drunk
Stadium staff label University of Otago student as ‘too drunk’ for entry
D
uring Dunedin’s Illuminate Paint Party,
who then contacted OUSA and staff at the Forsyth
OUSA said they apologised to the student’s broth-
which took place at Forsyth Barr Stadium
Barr Stadium.
er when he recently made contact with them.
student was denied entry due to appearing
General Manager of OUSA Darel Hall said that as
Hall said he sympathised with the Stadium
intoxicated to staff. In actual fact he suffered
soon as they were informed, OUSA immediately
staff. Having previously been an Alcohol Health
from a number of physical disabilities. Critic
offered the student a refund of the $40 ticket
Promoter, he said it is “extremely hard work”
spoke with the student, Richard, who is actively
cost. Hall said, “It isn’t clear who should be held
trying to determine an individual’s level of in-
involved in sport at the University. He asked us
responsible. [OUSA are] not the promoter; it
toxication. “There are all kinds of things that you
not to publish his last name.
wasn’t our event, we just provide health and
need to take into account to make a judgment
safety.” Either way, OUSA refunded the individual
of whether or not you think someone is intoxi-
“because it’s a pretty unfortunate situation.”
cated. There isn’t an objective standard of what
on 10 July 2014, a University of Otago
Richard said that when he approached the stadium staff on the door, he lightly stumbled due to his disability. The staff member on guard asked him how he was; his stutter was then taken as a
intoxication looks like.”
“There are all kinds of things that
OUSA is not aware of any similar incidents oc-
sign that he was too intoxicated and was denied
you need to take into account to
entry into the premises. “I pleaded with staff for
make a judgment of whether or not
“It’s a relatively rare occurrence,” Hall noted,
about two and a half hours, but they weren’t
you think someone is intoxicated.
though, “If there are circumstances where people
having a bar of it.” After attempting to explain
There isn’t an objective standard of
need individual care, we are happy to do that.”
his disability to multiple staff members, as well as two police officers, Richard was still denied entry into the stadium. Richard stated he had only consumed three standard drinks that night,
what intoxication looks like.” DAREL HALL OUSA General Manager
hours before he left home. “I had completely
curring at past events involving the University,
Melissa Lethaby, Manager of Otago University Disability Information and Support, told Critic she believed OUSA “handled the matter very well.” When she was informed of the issue, she
burned it off and wasn’t feeling any effect by the
Since being made aware of the incident, OUSA has
immediately contacted Hall who “was very
time I had arrived at the Paint Party.”
looked into various ways that they can prevent
responsive.” She said, “I feel comfortable that
such mistakes from re-occurring. “We’ve been
Darel Hall and the team will do what they can
The student said he was “extremely shocked”
trying to think about any kind of systemic pro-
for future events.”
by what had happened, saying, “nothing to that
cedures we can put in place in terms of ID cards.
extent had ever happened before.” Although
[OUSA] has looked into whether there was any
President of OUSA Ruby Sycamore Smith said,
it was the first time an issue such as this has
kind of national structure that allowed people
“OUSA believes in an inclusive environment
occurred at an event OUSA has been involved
who have certain disabilities to verify that.” OUSA
and we’re sorry this happened to a student at
with, for similar reasons, he has been unfairly
have spoken to the stadium in regards to the idea,
an event we had a presence at. We’ve worked
denied by bouncers at Dunedin’s Boogie Nites
who have stated that they would be willing to
with the student and their family along with the
and Capone on two separate occasions.
cooperate if it was implemented in the future.
University’s Disability Support, OUSA Student
A family member of the student later contact-
The student told Critic he has not yet had an apol-
ed the University’s Disability Information and
ogy from OUSA, or staff at the stadium, since they
Support Office to inform them of the incident,
have been made aware of the mistake. However,
Support, DVML and others to create a policy
4 | Issue 20 Critic
which will mean this won’t happen again.” By Laura Munro | @LauraMunroNZ
NEWS
Execrable
So much conflict, so much love and a positively sore thumb
W
“We want more raisins,” Payal said, “Can we just have more raisins?”
e got a wee bit excited last Executive
out like a sore thumb, say something so we can
Executive agreed this would be looked into as
meeting after the team appeared to
turn it into a positive thumb.”
Ryan pointed out the request was “pretty un-
be having productive discussion. It
OUSA General Manager Darel Hall had his
substantial and uncontroversial.” Critic notes
operations report passed. He outlined that a
it got pretty substantial and controversial once
The meeting began with some good
recent survey revealed that students do not use
raisins were discussed.
old-fashioned OUSA scandal. OUSA President
the student handbook diary and its future was
Ruby Sycamore-Smith announced that she had
being considered, but that the wall-planner and
entered into a relationship with Critic Editor Zane
Critic magazine were widely used.
didn’t last long.
“We want more raisins,” Payal said, “Can we just have more raisins?” “How many do they get?” asked Darel.
Pocock. As it is Critic’s responsibility to hold
Darel is also focussing on health and safety
Ruby and OUSA accountable to students, action
standards, with a focus on earthquake safety
“But that’s a 300 per cent increase. What
had to be taken to address the obvious conflict
measures. The squash building is back to a sat-
about four raisins?” asked Darel. He agreed to
of interest. Zane has stepped back from having
isfactory level in regards to building standards.
look into the issue soon.
editorial rights over Critic content that covers
OUSA Finance Officer Paul Hunt discussed
The meeting finished with a round up of
OUSA’s activities, handing the task to the News
whether there should be a committee for religious
what each Executive member had recently
Editor. The issue was discussed after Critic staff
groups. There was a lack of input from most of the
achieved. This consisted of nothing interesting
were asked to leave the room, so when it was
Executive but Paul observed, “Religious and coun-
and is available at the end of the Executive
officially announced in the meeting, no comment
try groups are more where you go along and hang
minutes on the OUSA website. Instead of print-
was made by any Executive members. Ruby also
out together rather than doing stuff.” Recreation
ing their summaries, the screenshot from a
declared that she would no longer be chairing
Officer Henri Faulkner then talked about religion,
recent conversation between the 2013 OUSA
the meetings of Planet Media Dunedin Limited (a
or something along those lines – Critic was unable
President and the 2013 Critic Editor was much
wholly-owned subsidiary of OUSA under which
to decipher the many words that were said and
more entertaining.
Critic falls) due to the conflict but would remain
the rest of the Executive looked equally confused.
on the board whilst Admin VP Ryan Edgar took
No decision was made and Ruby, clearly irritated
over. Planet Media holds direct governance over
by the complete lack of constructive input from
the Critic Editor’s management, so it is also a
anyone, said “it would be good to put a piece of
conflict of interest for Ruby to chair the board.
paper in the agenda so we have some context. So
Ryan then discussed changes to the Elections
“They get about three and want eight.”
the discussion can be constructive.”
Policy. There are conflicting statements with the
Welfare Officer Payal Ramritu then addressed
internal policy and the constitution in that “one
her five items on the agenda. On her mission to
policy says we must have an abstain option, the
make OUSA Executive members more account-
other says we don’t have to and another says
able, she asked Critic how this may be achieved
do whatever.” Section 5.6 was removed from
through the publication. Critic responded that
the elections policy, which states there must
they simply needed contentious issues to be
be “an option to abstain from voting” until the
openly discussed in Executive meetings. The dis-
constitution could be amended. The second edit
cussion then returned to talk of timesheets and
was to correct a typo in 9.14 of the Elections Policy
Ruby quickly pointed out that there was strong
from “no” to “not,” so it was not “not” anymore.
objection to the idea when she suggested it at
The third edit was made to section 9.8, which
the start of the first semester. Ryan commented,
There was a final comment on account-
states that candidates cannot campaign in “a
“I don’t care anymore.” The only agreement was
ability, tactfully used by Ruby. She asked the
manner that implies endorsement by OUSA.”
that the Executive would return to giving a round-
Executive three times to join her on the stage
Any Executive member outwardly supporting a
up of their progress at the end of each meeting.
for the upcoming graduation ceremony, finally
candidate must make it clear that they are “act-
Expecting some pressing issues on account-
needing to say, “It’s important to make sure you
ing as an individual, outside of their official OUSA
ability to be addressed, Payal then discussed
are seen. It dove tails into accountability.” Payal
capacity.” Any campaign materials involving the
microwaves and the free breakfasts offered
finally agreed to assist, but no other Executive
Executive member, including social media posts,
to students. She requested more microwaves,
members volunteered.
must also clearly display a disclaimer that their
saying “the average wait time is 7.5 minutes”
Since the meeting, the peanut butter issue
support is “in no way an endorsement by OUSA.”
and most were either unavailable outside of
has been dealt with. The raisins issue is still to be addressed.
Ruby concluded the policy talk pointing
business hours or broken. She also requested
out that the Executive should thoroughly read
peanut butter, marmite and marmalade for the
the policy and “if there is something that sticks
free breakfasts held at Student Support. The
By Josie Cochrane | @JosieCochrane
Critic Issue 20 | 5
NEWS
$10,000 street art fund not enough
Additional $5,000 rasied despite claims scheme "stinks of nepotism"
D
festival, Justin Cashell, a member of Dunedin Street Art who also works for Tourism Dunedin as Tactical Branding and Marketing manager,
unedin’s first Street Art Festival is
according to their Facebook page, “In a city which
set to take place in October. With a
proudly boasts New Zealand’s first public Art
The Dunedin Street Art’s Facebook page
$10,000 Dunedin City Council grant for
Gallery and first Art Society, we are embracing
also states, “The art will attract people to visit
our evolution.”
Dunedin and help them really understand us as
more artwork, organisers have raised a further
$5,000 to bring international street artist Dal East to the festival. The contributions of 11 artists have been
However, the matter of how it is being funded and who is involved does not blend well with some Dunedin residents.
declined to comment.
a city and as a people.” The idea for the festival evolved from the “ripples” created by Belgium artist ROA’s work
confirmed to attend the festival, which will
One Dunedin artist, who wished to remain
in Bath Street and Phlegm’s work he complet-
take place as part of the Vogel Street Party on
anonymous, believed the project “stinks of nep-
ed in April 2014. ROA is renowned for his giant
18 October 2014. The line up includes interna-
otism.” He says some of the local artists include
paintings of black and white animals.
tional artists Dal East, the return of Phlegm,
people that have been employed in other capaci-
In March 2013, Critic reported the plans for
Pixel Pancho, and Mica Still from Wellington.
ties by Tourism Dunedin and aspects of the event
the Warehouse Precinct’s development for “cre-
The festival will include Dunedin artists Sean
appear to be self-promotion of some artists.
ative” plans, and it seems the street art project
Duffel, aka Ghstie, Andy McCready and Jon Thom.
“We are being asked to pay $5,000 to get
The Dunedin City Council has granted
Dal East over here when we have a bevvy of
$10,000 from the Central City Heritage Reuse
incredibly talented NZ street artists,” he said.
is one of the stepping-stones towards achieving these plans. “It’s not for us to force creativity – it is about
grant to the owner of the Chipmunks build-
“I think they are undervaluing NZ street
creating the spaces in which people can find
ing to bring Italian street artist Pixel Pancho
artists and making the ratepayers cough up
those synergies and inspirations,” DCC Heritage
to Dunedin.
for no reason.”
Planner, Dr Glen Hazelton, told Critic.
The festival, which is being organised by a
When asked how the New Zealand artists
group of volunteers from Dunedin Street Art, is,
would be paid for their contributions to the
Labour announces tertiary education policy
Promises “fair, transparent and sustainable” student support
T
By Bella MacDonald | @CriticTeArohi
of the tick-the-box organisation it has become.” Students have given mixed opinions on the policy. “It’s a step in the right direction,”
he Labour Party has announced the
needs more highly skilled people for a knowl-
according to fifth-year Law student Finbarr
tertiary education policy that they plan
edge-based future and preventing postgraduate
Noble. “Reinstating Students’ Associations is
to implement if they are elected to gov-
students from accessing allowances stands in
great, as are the promises not to proceed with
ernment. The policy was released by Labour’s
the way of that,” Street says. The statement dubs
the Education Amendment Bill and to restore
Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street.
the abolition of student allowances for postgrads
democracy and autonomy to our universities’
It promises “a Labour Government will fully
as “a thoughtless and mean initiative of Steven
councils,” he said. “That said, I reckon it will take
review the student support system – includ-
Joyce’s” and claims that some students who were
more than just modest commitments to restore
ing allowances, loans, accommodation support
close to the end of their courses have been forced
people’s faith in tertiary education, particularly
and scholarships – with a view to increasing
to leave because they could not afford to finish.
university education and its value.” Some were
access and making the system fair, transparent
The statement also announces Labour’s in-
more sceptical. Second-year Commerce and
tentions of reinstating post-doctoral fellowships
Botany student Cambrian Molark noted that “all
According to the statement, the first step the
for recent PhD graduates, capping fees at four
of the policies sound like great ideas on the sur-
Labour government will take is to reinstate the
per cent (but reviewing the cap on enrolments
face, although [Labour] haven’t acknowledged
student allowance for postgraduate students and
to make it more flexible), reinstating students’
where the money to fund the various schemes
those studying longer degrees, such as Clinical
associations, not proceeding with the Education
will come from … they seem promising for stu-
Psychology. They will also remove the restriction
Amendment Bill proposed by National, and re-
dents with little attention paid to the details.”
for medical and dentistry students on access to
viewing the Tertiary Education Commission “to
student loans after seven years. “New Zealand
reinstate its intended strategic purpose, instead
and sustainable.”
6 | Issue 20 Critic
By Nina Harrap | @NinaHarrap
NEWS
Salient Editor Fails at Playing Critic
VUWSA President, Sonya Clark.
Cameron Price gets “totes inappropes”
Price believes Clark has been
C
“openly endorsing one of the canameron Price, Co-Editor of Victoria
said inefficiencies in VUWSA, he was extremely
didates,” who goes by the name of
University’s student magazine Salient,
quick to point out what he believed the current
Rick. “Her and Rick had a gentle-
has brutally failed at an attempt to troll
Executive members were doing wrong, or simply
man’s agreement last year that he
the intellects at Critic. Price recently put him-
not doing at all. “[Throughout VUWSA] personal
wouldn’t run against her, and then he
self forward for multiple executive positions in
politics get in the way of pragmatic achievements
would succeed the next year.” Price
the VUWSA (Victoria University of Wellington
being made. Too often the idea of consultants and
believes this is an “undermining of
Student Association) elections for 2015. Price
focus groups and stakeholder planning takes
democracy” and “totes inappropes.”
originally applied for the roles of President, Vice-
over,” he commented.
Although Price was unsure of how
President (Engagement), Equity Officer, Clubs
Price states that in 2013 only one thousand
and Activities Officer, and Campaigns Officer.
students voted in the VUWSA elections. Following
said, “If it’s through Sonya you should
For reasons unknown to Critic, he withdrew from
this “the resulting Exec got to spend $10,000 of
know she talks a lot of shit. You can print that
the election soon after.
students’ money.” Price believed this was “out-
if you’d like.” Critic was unable to contact Sonya
Price then attempted to play Critic for mere
rageous” considering that “Salient’s funding re-
Clark for a comment on Price’s accusations.
fools, insisting he was still running in the cam-
mained the same.” It is alleged that VUWSA “don’t
Nominations for the VUWSA elections closed
paign, the desired result being that Critic would
get anything done except for a mediocre O-Week
at 4.30pm last Tuesday. Voting will take place
print a false story. Whilst outlining the likeness he
and a sausage sizzle now and then.” Although he
from Wednesday 20 August to Friday 22 August,
had to Labour hopeful Tamati Coffey, Price assured
is not intending to do so himself, Price believes
with winners announced shortly after.
Critic he was “the change VUWSA needs.” Though
“we can do better than that. Yes we can.”
he is not putting himself forward to mend the
He also had a great deal to say about current
Aoraki faces worst student numbers in the country Tertiary institute remains super optimistic
A
Critic became aware of the story, he
By Laura Munro | @LauraMunroNZ
Tertiary Education Commission figures only included “student achievement component'' (sac-funded) places and did not account for en-
oraki Polytechnic continues to record
“so our [numbers] do, and will, look different as
rolments by international students, non-Govern-
a decline in student numbers, accord-
we work through this process.”
ment funded places and students participating in
ing to figures released by the Tertiary
Education Commission. The figures show that Aoraki is losing students at a faster rate than any other New Zealand
Cabrera blames a “buoyant employment
other Government schemes.
market“ for loss of students, with “prospective
Otago Polytechnic communications director
students securing jobs” instead of beginning or
Mike Waddell reported to the ODT that the “Otago
continuing study.
factor” was a key reason for the increase, stating
university or polytechnic. In 2013, numbers
“We are making provisions for growth in
that he believed Otago Polytechnic’s success was
dropped from 915 to 664 over the course of the
part-time, flexible, work-based programmes of
largely down to the “quality of the programmes
year – a substantial 27.4 per cent.
study to appeal to people already in employment,”
and the quality of the staff.”
The decline comes at a rough time for Aoraki,
states Cabrera.
Sac-funded numbers grew from 2,425 to
after finishing last year with a deficit of three
These “provisions” include a cadetship pro-
2,647 at Otago Polytechnic, while student num-
million dollars and a string of redundancies. To
gramme, work-based and project-based learning,
bers at Southern Institute of Technology grew
make matters worse, Aoraki’s chief competitors
and a remodelling of the trades programme to
from 2695 to 2924.
in the South – the University of Otago and Otago
now include two days of workplace engagement
Polytechnic – both recorded a growth in numbers,
for every three days of study.
defying national trends.
In spite of facing some daunting figures, Aoraki’s Cabrera remains “excited for the future.”
In addition, Aoraki plans to introduce a
“We remain committed to continue to support
However, Aoraki Polytechnic’s CEO Alex
new Diploma in Agribusiness Management
our community … Aoraki Polytechnic’s focus is on
Cabrera believes the figures do not accurately
and Horticulture, alongside new Painting and
quality education most relevant to the students
reflect Aoraki’s “new focus.”
Decorating programmes and a “more flexible
and industries in the region that we serve.”
“Aoraki is in the process of transitioning into areas of priority for the region,” states Cabrera,
delivery model” for Carpentry. The Otago Daily Times reported that the
By Emily Draper | @CriticTeArohi
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NEWS
Toroa College blowing the budget even more Rest of the university continues to spend too much
T
research was received due to “greater than expected income from non-reciprocal research.” Departmental and divisional variances of
oroa College’s recent upgrade and
was upwards of $4 million, higher than the $3.01
budget were covered during the Council meeting.
expansion has gone over budget by even
million that was allocated for the upgrade.
Major variances in budget were found in the op-
more than previously reported, with the
The excess $915,000 that was spent on Toroa
erating costs of the University, with expenditure
total cost of the refurbishment now being over
College and its refurbishments includes the con-
for the year to date at $297 million, $4.053 million
budget by almost $1 million. As previously found,
struction of an additional 20 rooms and a larger
over budget. Laboratory expenses, reference
the extreme difference in cost was recorded as
central common room. This has been in con-
material costs and travel and accommodation
being an error in the estimated cost.
junction with the refurbishments carried out at
expenses accounted for $1.6 million of the vari-
The latest University Council meeting, held
other colleges around campus such as Carrington
ance. $1.7 million of the overspending was due
on the 12 August, stated that an extra $915,000
College and Aquinas College. The refurbishments
to academic salary costs, due to “higher than
was spent on the upgrade and expansion of the
at the college are the most extensive since the
expected research activity.” The Health Sciences
college, due to “an approved project overrun as a
college was first established 18 years ago, with
and (other) Science divisions, respectively, re-
result of a QS error made on the cost estimates for
the new common room allowing residents to be
corded budget blowouts of $1.486 million and
the project.” In last month’s council meeting, the
able to relax, study, watch television, game and
$450,000. A lack of tutors and demonstrators
refurbishment of the college was recorded at being
enjoy time with other Toroa residents.
was cited as a cause of this overrun of the budget.
only $580,000 for the January to May period.
The University Council report also revealed
The total cost of the upgrade spent, however,
that $1.894 million in extra, externally funded
Unaccounted leave leaves accountant unaccounted for Calling in sick when you’re not sick makes wallet sick
A
former University of Otago student
for another person to impersonate him.
By Steph Taylor | @CriticTeArohi
“These people are, after all, put in positions of great trust over the most sensitive of human transactions – money,” Campbell-Hunt continues. As for the strong reputation of Otago’s gradu-
has been removed as a member of
He also failed to respond in writing to the
ate accountants, Campbell-Hunt does not believe
the New Zealand Institute of Chartered
initial complaint when the discovery of his fraud-
the case of Collins will hinder the reputation of the
ulent behaviour first came to light.
finest graduates. “We are proud of [the graduates]
Accountants after giving false medical certificates to his former workplace and a fake reference to a recruitment company. At his hearing on 5 August 2014, Simon Michael Collins was found guilty of providing
After being found guilty of the charges and
and the reputation of an Otago degree in these
as well as being stood down from the NZICA, he
subjects will undoubtedly be influenced far more
has also been ordered to pay $9,348 to cover his
strongly by them than by the odd bad apple,” says
court costs.
Campbell-Hunt. “Having said that, we are putting
false medical certificates to his former employer.
As listed on his LinkedIn profile, it states he
The decision said Collins’ former workplace was
had been working for De Lorenzo NZ Ltd since
to be suppressed. An analysis of his LinkedIn
November 2013 as General Manager and also as
“Nobody in this Department is interested in
profile indicates that he was working at Deloitte
a Financial Controller for Enzo International Ltd.
delivering second-class teaching or producing
in Christchurch at the time. When questioned about the accusations, he stated he received medical treatment, including
The hearing decision read “repeated dishonesty is however incompatible with membership of the Institute.”
more and more energy into lifting the standard of our degree.”
second-class graduates.” Collins was registered as a Provisional Member of the NZICA, which as another Dunedin
surgery, in Timaru during the 11-day period he
“Professional disqualification is a very rare
accountant pointed out means, “he has either
was absent from work. However, this was proven
event. There are 100,000 members of the new
(a) never sat his exams to be a full Chartered
to be untrue.
combined Australia and New Zealand professional
Accountant or (b) failed the exams.”
He also provided to a recruitment company
body, CAANZ. That there are so few cases of dis-
The process to become a Chartered
a previous manager as a referee, but used his
honesty is evidence of the strong professional
Accountant usually takes two to three years, costs
own home telephone number as the “manager’s”
mores of accountants,” Professor Colin Campbell-
around $10,000 and includes a six-hour exam.
number. It is believed he either gave a telephone
Hunt, Head of Department of Accountancy and
reference impersonating his manager or arranged
Finance at Otago University, told Critic.
By Bella MacDonald | @CriticTeArohi
Critic Issue 20 | 9
NEWS
Chronicles of Castle
Thoughtful students look out for the kids
D
students in attendance report complete and total memory loss.
ue to the great success and controver-
school. Cheers, Dunedin, for doing your part to
Christchurch students, who have frequently
sy of last week’s Bouncing Off the Halls,
solve the world hunger crisis, starting with those
come down for the sole purpose of destroying
Critic is back with more stories of booze,
who need it most – the children.
North Dunedin, have faced a swift vengeance.
boobs and bodily fluids.
Dunners lads recently visited the Garden City, Speaking of hunger pains, another student was
ransacking and ravaging Christchurch in a way
This time we’re moving away from the stomping
walking home from town when a young lady
that would make a mother proud. Critic has even
grounds of Dunedin’s filthiest freshers to the
asked for a bite of his Pita Pit in exchange for
heard reports of one student defecating inside a
drunk, disorderly, disgusting and depraved
some friendly fellatio. Satisfied that his Bachelor
pair of shoes.
pastures of Castle Street, the infamous student
of Commerce had finally come in handy, the
ghetto to which many call home.
student happily offered her a bite and headed
In other news, a naked lock-in resulted in an
home to do the dirty. Critic works this out to be
awkward morning-after for the residents of
approximately 30 cents for the deed, give or take
one frisky flat. The night quickly and inevitably
any indulgent extras.
descended into an alcohol-fuelled orgy, which
Be warned – she’s not pretty. To start with a bang, we must begin with the
would have been okay if not for the 50 per cent
tale of one dirty Castle damsel who was lucky in
Earlier this year, one Castle student-cum-group-
participation rate. While half the room writhed
love at the end of a night out. The horny maiden
ie showed Tinie Tempah some Southern hospi-
and moaned, the other half looked on, presum-
dragged her prince back to her flat, where he was
tality, shedding and bedding the English rapper
ably praying for salvation while planning their
struck with sudden hunger pains that needed
during his visit to Dunedin. For the sake of our
crying wank later that night.
urgent and immediate attention. No matter that
own, Critic sincerely hopes Tempah was packing
they were in the lounge, the ravenous lad went
a tad more than his name suggests.
a-snacking on his lady-friend. Unfortunately this
To end on a high, three female students were caught smoking an unidentified illegal substance
midnight feast was to the shock and horror of her
Castle Street was recently treated to the Gay
outside the Marsh Study Centre early last week.
flatmates who entered the lounge only minutes
Box’s annual party, which boasted over $3,000
They avoided charges by claiming they were
later to see their friend in a rather compromising
worth of alcohol for the lucky guests and saw
participating in a psychological study on the
position. An escape was needed for our young
both walls and brain cells demolished in one
effects of drug use on study habits. When this
male hero who quickly dialled the number of his
ridiculous night. One intoxicated student must
didn’t work, they performed a cheeky flash and
sober driver. Unfortunately the love story was not
have mistaken a cracked wall for a bathroom as,
fled. Top marks, Castle Street. Top marks.
to be. The girl was shocked to discover his sober
according to the terrified onlooker, “he whipped
driver was his mum and that he was still in high
out his cock and peed in the hole!” All other
10 | Issue 20 Critic
By Emily Draper | @CriticTeArohi
NEWS
Dunedin-Destined Drugs; Prison-Destined Student
The student appeared in the Dunedin District
A
tence for this level of drug importation depends
Up to $57,000 of LSD and ecstasy almost encouraged fun 21-year-old male student from Otago
in capsules on the Dunedin market. The student
Polytechnic has been charged with im-
is facing a number of other charges in connection
Court on Tuesday morning. The standard senon the person’s criminal history.
porting class A and class B controlled
to the drug seize on top of charges for importing
"The thing is that he is only 21 but dealing with
drugs. The recent drug haul, which found LSD
Class A and B drugs, and is possibly looking at
drugs in such high quantities. He will probably
and MDMA (ecstasy) on Monday 11 August, had
a number of years in prison.
end up with a pretty harsh sentence," said Bell.
an estimated value of between $3,000 and
"This will affect everything; his employment, his
$7,000 for the LSD and approximately $50,000
Drug Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell
for the MDMA.
described the drug haul as unusual in terms
travel, for the rest of his life. That is the reality."
of LSD. "They're not commonly seen in New
Bell reminds those who do choose to take drugs,
Critic spoke to Detective Hamish Barrons of the
Zealand; there is not a huge market for LSD but
such as LSD and ecstasy, to do so in a safe envi-
Southern District Organised Crime Squad about
it seems to be beginning to see a comeback," he
ronment and to be in the right frame of mind. He
how the product was found. “The arrest was as
said. Bell remarked that this kind of drug find is
also pointed out that when dealing with ecstasy
a result of three importations that were intend-
quite rare, but spoke of the health risks of the
to do so in moderation, especially those doing it
ed for Dunedin," said Barrons. The drugs were
student market that drugs were likely intended
for the first time.
sourced online from Germany and the United
for. "We are going to end up with a lot of novice
Kingdom, but were intercepted at the Auckland
users or people who do not know how to stay
Karen Heine from OUSA Student Support urges
Mail Centre. This resulted in the surveillance of a
safe ... People need to be careful."
those with issues to seek support. "People can
PO BOX and two search warrants being executed by Police and Customs.
absolutely come to Student Support to have a The ecstasy was seized in a crystalline form, but
chat about what they're going through and the
it is thought that this would be "cut down" and
various avenues of support available to them,"
Barrons contends that the drugs were for a
mixed with undesirable products. It is worth
she said.
commercial enterprise. He believes they were
about $450 per gram in the crystalline form.
intended for mixing with other products and sold
By Anna Whyte | @ACGBW
Te Roopu Maori COLUMN
your gears, take a minute to decide who you
NEw Zealand General Elections - Why should we bother?
T
think will make the biggest impact to bring about change. While John Key and the National Party
he New Zealand general election is fast
they think we are too lazy/apathetic/ignorant to
have a substantial lead, under our MMP system
approaching and there are an abundance
have our say. To be fair that’s an outright yarn.
it is still a very tight race. Every vote counts and
of storylines and sideshows regarding it.
The system needs to better encourage youth to
perhaps this is the opportunity to have your say
On 20 September everyone over the age of 18
vote. There is a genuine feeling amongst at least
that could determine who the next government
who is a New Zealand citizen can have a say in
my peers that the current parties and candidates
is and how much power they wield. Whether
whom they believe can represent them in our
have not earned our vote.
you sit on the right or the left, have your say; it
parliament. As a politics major I often hear ques-
What makes this election interesting is for
tions like “who should I vote for?” and “What’s
once the youth vote is actually being targeted.
the point? Nothing changes anyway.” Young
The arrival of the Internet Party and the Internet-
people have the worst turnout of all age groups
Mana alliance, whatever their true motivations,
and this is even worse among Māori voters. There
have made a pledge to target youth and the
are many reasons for this, ranging from apathy
“internet generation.” Their brand of popular
Te Hau White
to ignorance. We as young people do not want
appeal backed by celebrities and musicians has
Tumuaki Tuarua o Te Roopū Māori
to get involved because we don’t see any direct
certainly captured the attention of the media and
(Vice president of Te Roopu Maori)
benefits. This leads to a vicious cycle that leaves
it will be interesting to see if that can translate
the decision making with the baby boomers who
into youth turnout.
look out for themselves and strip us bare because
So even if there is just one issue that grinds
is your right. But if you don’t, just remember that you can’t have a feed if you’re not at the table. For more information on enrolment and the election head to www.election.org.nz
By Te Hau White | @CriticTeArohi
Critic Issue 20 | 11
s port
A Season of Fire and Ice: The Game of Premier League Thrones
T
his week we go to the Weirwood and
2012, ripping it out of the hands of their bitter
Suarez had bitten the innocent shoulder of yet
Valyrian steel football desk where over
rivals, Manchester United. Also amongst their
another opponent and has since disappeared,
the past few years our two favourite
ranks is everyone’s favourite little imp, David
transferred to Barcelona.
things to illegally stream online have been
Silva. “A Lannister always pays his debts” is a
HBO’s violent, softcore-pornography drama,
well known line from the show and Manchester
Game of Thrones, and the less violent but equally
City have had to make good on this pledge by
awesome male soap-opera that is the English
paying a £49 million pound fine as punishment
Premier League. While the next season of Game
for breaching the rules of financial fair play.
of Thrones is still many, many months away the 2014/15 Premier League has just kicked off so to get in the mood for the season ahead we have put together an unexpected mashup, recapping the events of the last few seasons of both “games.” These days, spoilers are viewed as a crime worthy of beheading so readers beware: Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!
House Tyrell of Chelsea “Growing Strong” The Tyrells are a modest House with only a limited amount of recent success of which to
House Targaryen of Liverpool “Fire and Blood”
brag about. Much like Chelsea in the capital of London, the Tyrells’ current power and status in the capital of Kings Landing is derived through their money and shrewd political machina-
The Targaryens ruled Westeros for many years
tions. Despite Chelsea’s recent emergence as
before being knocked off their perch by the
a powerful player, they lack the respect of the
Baratheon usurpers. Similarly, Liverpool ruled
wider footballing community just as no one
the roost in England for many years before the
truly respects the Tyrells, criticising both for
introduction of the Premier League saw their
being nouveau-riche usurpers. Both the Tyrells
power decline to the benefit of their great rival,
and Chelsea have had to enter into marriages of
Manchester United. The young but strong-willed
convenience for their long-term benefit and sur-
Daenerys Targaryen has spent previous seasons
vival. Margaery and Loras have been pimped out
breaking chains and recruiting new soldiers from
to the Baratheons and Lannisters to help solidify
The Lannisters have a precarious hold on pow-
Qarth to Mereen whilst nurturing her young
the Tyrells’ positions of power in the same way
er in Westeros owing much to their political
dragons: the temperamental Drogon and his
that Mata and Lukaku were sent north to United
machinations and the deep pockets of overseas
siblings Rhaegal and Viserion. The young but
and Everton at different times to try and take
financiers. This is very similar to the recent rise
strong-willed Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers,
away points of Chelsea’s more immediate title
of Manchester City, whose Middle-Easton owners
has been on a similar recruitment drive of his
rivals. Although her half-witted son Mace is the
have financed the purchase of many sell-swords
own from Portugal to Germany while also nur-
head of House Tyrell it is the canny old Matriarch
who have helped City to the Premier League title
turing his own young dragons, last season’s
Olenna Tyrell who is really pulling the strings.
in 2012 and 2014. If City boss Manuel Pellegrini
temperamental top scorer Suarez and his un-
Her subtle but effective playing of the "Game of
doesn’t deliver continued success he might
derstudies Sturridge and Sterling. At the end of
Thrones" is par excellence with the brilliance
meet the same unfortunate fate as patriarch
last season Daenerys was heartbroken to learn
of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho who plays
Tywin Lannister. Manchester City retain the
that Drogon had killed the innocent daughter
the Premier League mind games better than
services of their “King Slayer” Sergio Aguero
of a goat herder and has since disappeared,
anyway and constantly gets the half-witted
who will always be remembered for his injury
whereabouts unknown. During the World Cup,
Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, to stump up
time goal that won them the Premier League in
Rodgers was equally heartbroken to learn that
the cash to help the team keep “Growing Strong.”
House Lannister of Manchester City “Hear Me Roar”
12 | Issue 20 Critic
s port
SPORT EDITOR: Daniel Lormans | Sport@CRITIC.CO.NZ | @danbagnz
House Martell of Arsenal “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”
House Stark of Tottenham Hotspur “Winter is Coming”
House Baratheon of Manchester United “Ours is the Fury”
Oberyn Martell arrived in the capital at the start
While the cockerel mascot of Tottenham Hotspur
In Robert Baratheon and Sir Alex Ferguson you
of last season full of swagger and memorable
isn’t nearly as intimidating as the Direwolf sigil
had a fat, red-nosed drunk in charge of a respect-
one-liners. Much the same way Arsene Wenger
of House Stark there are many similarities be-
ed House/club. They were both past their prime
and his Arsenal side started their season, leading
tween the two nonetheless. The Starks fight to
when they passed the crown to their illegitimate
the table for the majority of the season and over
maintain control of the North of Westeros while
heirs, Joffrey and David Moyes, who both proved
the busy Christmas period. In Oberyn’s “trial
Spurs find themselves constantly under siege in
to be unfit leaders that were universally despised
by combat” with “The Mountain” he gained the
their seat of power in the North of London. Like
as a King and a manager, one for being gener-
upper hand in the early stages and we all thought
the honourable and much liked Ned and Robb
ally sadistic and the other for being generally
he was destined for victory until his ego got in
Stark, recent Spurs managers Andre Villas-Boas
incompetent. Their time on the throne was cut
the way; instead of finishing off The Mountain he
and Tim Sherwood have met the same fate as
short, being poisoned out of the top job by those
insisted that The Mountain confess to the rape
their honourable Stark counterparts, all of these
close to the throne. New United boss Louis van
and murder of his sister. This lead to Oberyn
beheadings coming as an untimely shock to their
Gaal will need to have a major internal shake up
suffering a skull crushing defeat that came as
respective audiences. In recent seasons Jon Snow,
to bring back the fury that made United so feared
quite the shock to the disbelieving audience.
the Starks’ best swordsmen, decided he wasn’t
and revered. While Wayne Rooney is as dumb
This was reflected in Arsenal’s eventual downfall.
fitting in at Winterfell and decided to “take the
as Hodor, he is also the Stannis of Man United.
The team on top of the table after Christmas and
black” and head north to join the Night’s Watch
Urged on by his greedy Melisandre-esque wife,
New Year has historically gone on to win the title
on the “The Wall.” Similarly, the very popular
Coleen, Rooney claims that he is the rightful
but, like Oberyn, Wenger got a little too cocky
Gareth Bale, Spurs’ best striker, decided he wasn’t
heir to the captaincy of the United and England
and refused to splash the cash in the January
fitting in at White Hart Lane and decided to “take
teams. However, many people disrespect him
transfer window as his ego is built on consistent
the white” and head south to join the Los Blancos
and his claim, accusing him of being unfit to lead
success without the big spending of his rivals. He
in Real Madrid. With the loss of Bale many Spurs
because he is overpaid and underperforming.
refused to purchase another striker and Arsenal
fans feared the often mentioned winter had finally
ran out of steam and ended up suffering a soul
arrived and with most of their elders dead or sold,
crushing defeat that came as quite a shock to
both Spurs and the Starks will be relying on their
their disbelieving fans.
plucky younger generations to fly the flag.
By Daniel Lormans | @danbagnz
Critic Issue 20 | 13
NEWS IN BRIEFS B y J o s i e C o ch r a n e a n d m e mb e r s o f Th e B l u e M a n G r o u p
GRAPEVINE
WORLD WATCH
“If the monkey took it, it owns copyright, not me, that’s their basic argument. What they don’t realise is that it needs a court to decide that … I’ve told them it’s not public domain, they’ve got no right to say that it’s public domain. A monkey pressed the button, but I did all the setting up.”
Shinshiro, Japan | A politician in Aichi Prefecture has suggested that deliberately punctured condoms be distributed to married couples to counter the country’s dwindling birth rate. The population is expected to drop from 127 million to around 87 million by 2060.
Photographer David Slater is looking at spending upwards of £10,000 ($16,800) to take Wikipedia parent Wikimedia to court over the copyright of a monkey’s selfie after the black macaque used his equipment. Wikipedia refuses to remove the photo from its commons library, claiming that Slater does not own the copyright and instead, because he pressed the shutter, the monkey does.
Somerset, England | An 18-year-old girl has spent three weeks in hospital after drinking 10 Jagerbombs. Her heart arrested three times and she spent three days in a coma.
Cabo de Roca, Portugal | A Polish couple died after falling off a cliff edge whilst posing for a photo. Local reporters said the parents had given their children, aged five and six, the camera to take a picture. They are undergoing psychiatric care.
“I know that many of you are rightly concerned about any American military action in Iraq, even limited strikes like these … I understand that. I ran for this office in part to end our war in Iraq and welcome our troops home, and that’s what we’ve done. As commander in chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq.” President Obama speaking about actions taken by his administration in Iraq, including airdrops of humanitarian supplies and the authorisation of airstrikes against ISIS forces to defend and help the Kurds. He made a point of reassuring the public that the president who pulled American forces out of Iraq at the end of 2011 had no intention of fighting another full-scale war there.
"Our study suggests that they are the top threat to US wildlife … We hope that the large amount of wildlife mortality indicated by our research convinces some cat owners to keep their cats indoors and that it alerts policymakers, wildlife managers and scientists to the large magnitude of wildlife mortality caused by cat predation." Iguosu, Nigeria | Osagiator, a 19-year-old boy, has been arrested after it was alleged he had sex with a dog. The dog has been killed as a result of the perceived shame brought upon the community.
Dr Pete Marra from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) discussing scientists’ reports that cats are one of the top threats to US wildlife. The authors estimate they are responsible for the deaths of between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds and 6.9-20.7 billion mammals annually. They said stray and feral cats were the worst offenders, but added that pet cats also played a role.
awesomebabyname.com
BEST OF
THE WEB
Unique baby names based on what URLs are available.
imgur.com/YctuUt6 The world’s deadliest animals are not what you expect.
humblebundle.com Cheap games for charity.
14 | Issue 20 Critic
spacecraftforall.com/live Live space records.
windowsofnewyork.com The beautiful windows of New York, illustrated.
boomeranggmail.com Schedule the time your emails are sent.
FACTS &
FIGURES Selfie contests and old cheese
1.6km/h
the top speed that tortoises can run at.
Seriously? It appears the ODT has got reoccurring beef with Kim’s large frame.
Only 30 minutes? That definitely doesn’t give enough time to fully
Grizzly bears' bodies resemble the symptoms of type two diabetes during hibernation.
convey the complex procedure that is hand-washing.
Oompaloompadaleaphobia On first glance, we wondered
Irrational fear of oompa loompas.
how someone could look so happy when holding a dog crap and headline it “good fortune.” (The dog looks appropriately guilty at least.) Turns out that suspiciously dog poo-looking
Actinomycetes
Bacteria that cause the smell after rain.
heap in her hand is a melted smoke alarm … ODT really needs to polish its photography skills.
11 minutes
Action time in average NFL game.
Oddly enough, that sounds more smelly than good.
Classic ODT, using a pun at completely the wrong time. With a fatality rate of 95 per cent and nobody willing to pay for vaccine or treatment testing processes, Ebola is not exactly a pun-worthy topic.
You know we’re in a sad state of affairs when the only way to get people to the library is through selfies. Oamaru Public Library has succeeded in boosting attendance by
Phoropter
The optometrists’ instrument to test prescription.
8.8cm
The longest nose in the world measured from the bridge to the tip.
16 billion
Photos uploaded to Instagram.
launching a contest where people come to the library, take a selfie amongst the books and upload it to Facebook. Props to them for capitalising on our generation’s neurotic self-obsession.
By Kristen Stewart and Allison Hess | @CriticTeArohi
20 per second Pecks by a woodpecker.
Critic Issue 20 | 15
politic s
POLITICS EDITOR: Carys Goodwin | POLitics@CRITIC.CO.NZ | @cgoodwin23
Critic tackles election year The Battle for Dunedin South
S
what they want from students upon graduation. Shane’s Response: I mean, [networking between
ince I’ve already featured an article
that experience. […] After six years of a National
businesses] is one of those catchphrases that
in which I followed Clare Curran around
Government, we now have more youth engaged
actually means nothing, and one of the things
for an afternoon, I figured it was only fair
in education, training or apprenticeships now,
they could have done, for instance, was ensure
to take a look at two of the other people vying
than ever before. […] Ministry of Employment,
that Hillside Workshops actually were able to
for the spot: Hamish Walker of the National Party
Innovation and Business estimate the 90-day
build trains. Because when you take jobs away
and Shane Gallagher of the Greens. Initially, I
trial introduced a couple of years ago has
and hand them off to China or hand them off to
was hoping to host a debate between the two
resulted in an extra 13,000 jobs, mainly to people
Spain or wherever, you’re taking away jobs and
of them, but Hamish is a very busy man and
who wouldn’t have been given that opportunity
you’re taking away money within the economy.
ended up being unable to make it. My dreams of a
under old employment law.
So Hillside Workshops did a lot of subcontracting
verbal swordfight were shattered. He emailed me
to engineering companies throughout the whole
answers instead. I still spoke to Shane, however,
Shane’s Response: Well the 90-day trial hasn’t
of South Dunedin, and South Dunedin is a major
and gave him the opportunity to respond to some
improved any jobs, it hasn’t given anyone extra
engineering hub, and it has always been one of
of the things Hamish said. In case you’re thinking
jobs; it just means employers are more likely to
those hidden secrets; those open secrets that no
“BIAS,” one way or the other (inevitable), think
sack you. It doesn’t actually create jobs, this is
one really knows about. But Hillside Workshops
of it like this: Hamish got the day to mull over his
some sort of fallacy that you have some sort of
was a really major engineering hub, and now
responses and present them in a written format
change in the way you can employ someone
that has been taken away, you’ve torn out the
(and the last question was only asked of him);
and suddenly this magically creates jobs. Jobs
heart of the engineering sector in Dunedin. It’s
Shane got the last word and was able to hear
are created by stimulus in the economy, activity
still there but it’s struggling.
some of Hamish’s responses. If Hamish wants to
in the economy, and so the idea that you can
respond to anything Shane has said, he is invited
magically create jobs by changing the working
Another issue for Dunedin South is poverty, as
to write a letter to Critic. For ease of reading,
conditions is not tenable; it makes no sense. And
many of the population hubs in the electorate
they’re presented as follows: Shane’s answer to
unless there’re actual jobs there, in the economy,
are dense and poor. What do you plan to do to
question, Hamish’s answer to question, Shane’s
how can you transition to them from education?
help people who’re struggling?
response to Hamish.
Again, it’s just not joining the dots, there’s no
Shane: Again, we’ve got a lot of policies,
sense to that, there’s no continuity. [In-study
which line up together or come together as
What are some initiatives you have to improve
internships] might be an okay idea, but [since
jigsaw pieces, so again we want to raise the
employment for people in Dunedin South?
1988] […] people’s wages have remained flat
minimum wage, we want to get people being
Shane: Well, we have a range of issues, ‘cause
while productivity has massively increased,
paid the living wage, we want to reduce costs
we try to approach everything holistically, so
and that money’s gone somewhere, and we
by reducing people’s power bills, we want to
the headline things are: the $1b research and
know where, it’s gone to the very top, because
extend the insulation scheme. […] And by also
development fund, which is looking at industries
that’s what’s driven inequality in New Zealand.
introducing our NZ Power idea we can actually
that are green and sustainable; one of the key
So the thing that drives economies is you need
reduce people’s power bills by $300 a year. […]
areas that Dunedin could be looking at there is
to start getting money into people’s pockets so
If people are healthier and happier and have a
biofuel, so biofuel development. We have a lot
that they can spend, so you want to increase the
bit more money in their pockets that stimulates
of woody fuel, with the city forests. I know that
wages, so you need to increase minimum wage
your society and your economy. We also have
Celsius, which is a New Zealand biofuel company
and get them working on a living wage, cause
the Carbon Tax: we’re going to give people a tax
that’s now gone overseas because it wasn’t able
people shouldn’t have to subsist on a wage they
cut, and it’s a $2000 tax-free allowance that will
to get the venture capital, wanted to base one of
simply cannot live on in order to boost the profits
basically mean you get an extra $300 a year. It
its processing plants here in Dunedin, but wasn’t
of a company. […]
doesn’t sound like a huge amount, but again,
able to raise the funding. […] We’ve also got IT
with the savings from your reduced power bills
design, the Green Investment Bank, which we’re
What about businesses? What do you plan to
and increased spending power from being able
proposing, so people come up with innovative
do to help them?
to have a decent wage through a minimum wage
ideas of their own, then get loans from that.
Hamish: I would like to see more interaction
job, these things all add up.
between businesses in Dunedin. Networking Hamish: I would love to see more opportuni-
between different businesses through local
Hamish: I will work with a number of different
ties for people (and high school students in
business associations/groups/employers
agencies to get a good stock take of what the
particular) to try work experience across a
association allows them to work together
main problems are out there. I will then lobby
number of different businesses and industries
on common problems and that can only be a
for the needs of the people of Dunedin South. […]
in Dunedin South. […] We also need to make it
good thing. Moreover, I would also like to see
I will be talking to different groups, for example
easier for students to get work once they grad-
these groups working with students more. The
church groups, community groups, and other
uate. I would like to see more students placed
transition between university and work would
organisations to see where we can help each
into internships during study where more “real
be smoother, not only for the student, but more
other out. The Student Army is one example of
world” experience is gained and gives students
so for the employer if they have more say on
the benefits the community can achieve when it
16 | Issue 20 Critic
politic s
comes together. I have also visited community hubs in Dunedin South where people struggling to put food on the table meet regularly for play groups and soup kitchens. These hubs are doing great things for the community and families involved. Shane’s Response: Again, he’s denying the fact that these are systemic problems created by his government. I mean, they’ve created the situation in Dunedin where we have poor jobs; we’ve lost 44,000 jobs in the manufacturing industry alone. And Price Waterhouse Coopers has estimated that if we went down the green sector route, the green industrial route, that that could be worth $22b a year to us as an economy. […] The balance between local government and
POlitweets
national government in Dunedin is complex, and often leaves initiatives and people falling through the cracks. How would you increase
Nice.
the efficacy and efficiency of the relationship between local and national government? Shane: Well, we need to actually start talking to local government on a real level. One of the interesting conversations I had with Mayor Cull was that when they met with the Minister
Probably.
for Local Government that they were uniquely unimpressed by his dismissive and aggressive attitude, that he was basically telling them how to do their jobs. And what we really want to do I don’t know but we definitely should.
is partner with local government, ‘cause local government can have a lot of initiatives, and they come up with the local solutions. […] Hamish: It’s important to have a good working
Poor Col.
relationship with the mayor and councillors and be fully briefed on what’s happening in the district. I need to be fully aware of the local council and what they are doing and what their aspirations are for Dunedin South.
GREATEST HITS
GREATEST SHITS
Government simply abolished democracy in
W
a “shitstorm” in response to the publication of
W
Canterbury because they didn’t like what ECAN
his new book. Prior to its release, the hilarious
Essentially, using our supreme and complex
were telling them. […] There’s not an environ-
Twitter speculation alone was enough to warrant
analysis, they too figured out how much it would
ment in which local government and national
it this prized award; but Dirty Politics, released
cost certain politicians if they went to university
government have trust in each other because
Wednesday 13 August, one-upped its antici-
today. They even presented some of them with
any local government body now always has to
pation by being entirely full of juicy scandals
certificates. Unfortunately, they managed to get
second-guess themselves about if it is going
about some of our most beloved politicians
Steven Joyce’s cost wrong, undercharging him by
to upset the National government. Let’s again
and political commentators. Whale Oil was
about $2000. Presumably, this is because they
look at the record, because the record is pretty
thoroughly unimpressed.
fatally forgot to include miscellaneous Massey
Shane’s Response: Again, look at the track record of what National’s done. We had Environment Canterbury turn around and say ‘we don’t like what you’re doing’; then the National
poor on this matter.
ithout a doubt, Greatest Hit this week goes to Nicky Hager, who has created what can only be described as
inston always says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s hard to be stoked when AUSA hits
Yahoo NZ with a story they copied from Critic.
fees in their costing.
Critic Issue 20 | 17
NEWS
Home away from home or really expensive prison?
F
ollowing reports from past and present
Acknowledgement needs to be given to the fact
Assistants were trained in dealing with incidents.
students from the University of Otago
that these first year students are living within
Keaney says training the RAs is “just not good
Halls of Residence, Critic has spoken to
the atmosphere of this “clique-ness” though
enough” and that there needs to be a consistent
numerous parties to address complaints re-
and, as Jess says, “it can be like a mini high
policy across the halls. OUSA are supposed to
garding hall life.
school sometimes!”
be working on a policy, but with the change in Executive Rep, they are still waiting on a draft.
A number of students have reported to Critic that their time at their hall is “cliquey,” “lonely”
“Even though they're paying $300ish a
Jess said the hall policy on sexual assault “is moving forward” and plans on meeting with
and “not safe enough.” As well as this, students
week for the privilege of their own room
and Student Support report that rules appear
they're not allowed to watch BangBus4
to be getting stricter each year, but in all the
the Re-Bangening in the privacy and
In regards to the students who were recently
wrong ways. A resident of Arana said that he
comfort of their own bedrooms.”
asked to leave Unicol, there were rumours that
agreed with the comments made regarding hall
Student Support later this week.
the students’ rooms were actively searched
regulations and that despite the same levels of
whilst they were on holiday. The Proctor said that
alcohol being consumed each year, the rules
Director of Accommodation Services James
it was “absolutely not policy” to search peoples’
turn the halls into “a bit of a prison.”
Lindsay says the University is unaware of the
rooms “without an absolutely cast iron reason.”
reputation of Knox, Arana and Selwyn have as
He says, “it is a student’s home,” but individual
Critic spoke to Advocate & Student Representative
having a superiority complex over other halls.
rules are with the Halls depending on what was
Coordinator Philippa Keaney, who said that
“However a perception that each college is dif-
signed in the contract. Lindsay said that cleaning
Student Support gets “quite a few reports” from
ferent could be held by students themselves.
services are required each week to enter rooms
unhappy students at the halls.
Some colleges do, for example, tend to attract a
when students are not present; “also college staff
majority of students studying particular courses,
may enter rooms for health and safety reasons
She said that there was “definitely” an issue
such as health sciences or teaching.” He says that
when a student leaves for semester breaks, for
with loneliness across all the halls, but this is
this may “lead to the establishment of a different
example.” He said that this is done to check
understandable considering it is many students’
character or culture for each of the colleges that
heaters or lights are not left on, or windows are
first time away from home. However, she agreed
mirrors the predominant mix of students.”
not left open. “If a smell of cannabis is detected,
with the issue of certain halls, particularly the
staff will act to check the source to ensure no
more prestigious halls, having a higher rate of
Keaney believes the only way for the halls to
“cliquey” attitudes. She said, “Loneliness and
address the superiority issue is to “diversify the
cliquey-ness are two very different things.” She
intake.” She says that, for example, situations
Another student complained of some halls
does not notice the same issue with students
like at Knox, where there are students “whose
blocking certain websites. In response to a
who flat together, whether first years or not,
parents, aunties, uncles, etc.” have attended the
Facebook post, he said “even though they're
“the only social issue with flatting really is not
hall, “just adds to the issue.”
paying $300ish a week for the privilege of
getting along.” A large part of the issue may be
illegal activity is taking place on the premises.”
their own room they're not allowed to watch
from certain halls excluded themselves from
Keaney also said that the safety of women in the
BangBus4 the Re-Bangening in the privacy and
general first year events. For example, holding
halls was a major issue: “It’s like they pretend
comfort of their own bedrooms.” He adds, “It just
their own Toga parties, separate to the rest of
nothing even happens.” She said that there is
seems a somewhat too paternalistic view to take
the University events.
no form of advice in the hall handbooks and a
towards young adults, especially when they're
solid policy needed to be in place. Keaney said
the ones paying the bills.”
OUSA Colleges Officer Jess McLean points out that
that at meetings with Lindsay and the former
OUSA continues to promote clubs and recreation
Colleges Officer Brydie Ockwell, the halls de-
A resident at Cumberland said she felt the ear-
as “a great way to get out and meet new people.”
fended themselves saying that the Residential
ly kick-out time was “endangering us.” She
18 | Issue 20 Critic
NEWS
hopped in a car. No one would do that now. We just have to change attitudes.” He suggests that students go to town earlier so town isn’t starting at midnight and can get going at 9pm instead. The former Knox student believes that it is a shame Knox is heading down “the same road as the other halls.” He says, “including Knox these days, they are resorting to just putting a blanket over the issue of alcohol.” He says everyone is kicked out at 10pm at Unicol regardless of their drinking level. At the same time, he said, “It was pretty unbelievable what we got away with. They went
“I could have walked in with two bottles of vodka and would have got away with it. I understand that is probably not a good idea either.”
too far trying to enforce rules.” He says, “I could have walked in with two bottles of vodka and would have got away with it. I understand that is probably not a good idea either.”
explained that in the freezing winter months, be-
instead they have repercussions if you can’t use
ing kicked out of the hall at 9pm meant students
it responsibly.”
were taking bottles to the park and drinking
The University clearly holds a favourable look on all of the Halls but speaking to a number of
there, “just relying on our alcohol blankets when
Knox was widely known as one of the heavi-
students and with OUSA it is clear that there
we’re preloading.” Keaney said that this was
est-drinking Halls of Residence affiliated with
are still many issues to address, especially in
“really irresponsible for [the halls] to do.” She
the University, but it appears that since the
terms of the wellness of first year students. We
was aware that some halls had that policy in
change of Master, the hall has gone “from one
all know that the issue of where freshers drink
place but may only loosely follow it. Students at
extreme to the other,” says Keaney. Residents
needs to be addressed, particularly with student
a number of halls confirmed that the rule was
who misbehave at Knox are required to buy
bars closing down. RAs cannot be expected to
firmly enforced at several other halls.
New World vouchers for the OUSA food bank.
deal with the sexual assault process, and Halls
Keaney says, “Now we are overwhelmed with
should be helping, not hindering, students with
The Cumberland resident said that, if she were
New World vouchers.” She believes it has almost
getting involved with the rest of the University.
home, she would be allowed to responsibly
gotten too strict, with some students being pun-
drink in the house and their hall is supposed
ished for talking too loudly on the phone when
OUSA Colleges Officer Jess McLean says, “We
to be “a home away from home.” Critic asked
coming back from a night on the town. “Friends
would ask anyone who is having any issues to
if the University would support a move to en-
are having to sneak their drunk mates in back
get in touch with OUSA Student Support.”
courage halls to allow drinking in the dining
from town. Their mates who also live at the hall.”
halls later in the evenings. University of Otago
It believes it has almost created an “underbelly
Director of Accommodation Services Mr James
of drinking.”
Lindsay said,“Rules about alcohol consumption in Colleges are in place for good reasons …
A former Knox student, who was a resident in
Experience of running these colleges shows that
2009 and 2010, said residents were “encouraged
not all college residents drink alcohol, and nor
to drink with our friends over dinner [as a] a way
are they comfortable with the consumption of
to encourage us to drink in a positive way.” He
alcohol by others next or near to them.”
also attended Unicol, which he says “was an equally great time but different.”
He adds, “Some colleges already allow alcohol to be consumed at certain times … all regulations
Critic spoke to the Proctor, who said, “You don’t
are tailored to the character of each different
booze after tea.” He believes that allowing
college community.” Jess said, “If there was a
students to drink in the hall until 9pm is “very
demand for it [from students] then OUSA would
generous.” He explains that trying to get Halls to
be interested in discussing a better solution with
allow students in the dining hall to drink would
the colleges, especially as the North Dunedin
pose “a huge problem” with the much bigger
bar scene has changed and colleges are a safer
halls. He said that, “at the end of the day, the
place.” As a resident at St Margaret’s, she be-
attitude of just getting smashed before town
lieves her hall deals with it well: “They don’t
needs to change.” He explained that “years
restrict times when alcohol can be consumed,
ago we would have all gone drinking and then
By Josie Cochrane | @JosieCochrane
Critic Issue 20 | 19
F E AT U R E
F E AT U R E
The Freedom Mission By Loulou Callister-Baker
B
ell Murphy’s eyes light up as she
ideas to get to the point where I had enough of
they had dolphins in captivity, and against those
tells us the story about the homemade
an understanding to call myself an anarchist,”
who aided the exportation of approximately 70
pumpkin wine, which had flooded the
Bell tells me, ignoring my suspicious stares. “I
million live sheep each year to the Middle East
floor at Black Star Books when left to brew
still feel uncomfortable about labels because I
for Halal slaughter. But it was several years later
over a weekend. On the ground between Bell
don’t know what they mean in other people’s
when Bell was in Auckland that she realised
and I, a woman carefully paints a banner for an
heads. I’d rather have a conversation about the
there were splits between safe activism and
animal rights protest to be held in the Octagon
actual ideas.” 2005 was the first time Bell heard
hard lined anarchist activism. “People think
the following day. Two more young, darkly
about Black Star at an anarchist conference in
anarchism is about chaos and destruction but
dressed people arrive – one brings brioches
Christchurch. In 2009, Bell became a part of the
that’s a leap from the actual definition of anarchy
from her work and offers them to everyone in
collective. Now, she is one of the longest running
to an assumption about what the result of anar-
the room. By the time Bell finishes her recount
active members still involved.
chy would be,” Bell explains. “The word ‘anarchy’
of light-hearted experimentation the whole
means without leaders or no hierarchy. In order
room is laughing. The atmosphere is homely
During school almost every student will be
to get things done without leaders you have to
and relaxed. It feels like a flat, not the heart of
involved in something community related or
have other forms of organisation. Anarchism is
Dunedin’s largest anarchist collective.
even a vaguely activist event like a bake sale to
about finding ways to organise without author-
raise funds and awareness for a social cause. But
ity.” It is these questions of social power that
I follow Bell into Black Star’s kitchen. She contin-
for most in a country like New Zealand, that’ll be
preoccupy most anarchists.
ues to talk to me as she starts to gather together
as far as they’ll go for an ideology they believe
ingredients for a large community dinner. It’s
in. Bell, on the other hand, was an activist from
The political philosophy of anarchism has played
Friday, which (more times than not) means Black
an early age and has never stopped protesting.
an interesting role in New Zealand’s politics and
Star is hosting People’s Kitchen. “An anarchist
At fifteen years old and living in Hastings, Bell
continues to be present within organisations
cooking” – you may wonder – “could she be
began to find out about animal testing and
(like info-shops and publishing collectives)
making napalm?” When Bell isn’t looking I stare
factory farming. It was her fervent concern for
dispersed throughout the country. Both The
down into the large pot on the donated stove-
animal rights that became her entry point into
Freedom Shop and the anarchist publishing
top. The red liquid looks and smells like tomato
activism. Angry and brave, Bell – with resources
company Rebel Press in Wellington are exam-
soup, not a mixture of gelling agent and petrol.
and support from SAFE – helped organise
ples of current organisations centred around
“It took a few years of being around anarchist
actions against Napier’s Marineland, where
anarchist causes. In Dunedin, too,
Critic Issue 20 | 21
F E AT U R E
“Radical politics doesn’t just go ‘oh we need a new prime minister’ – that would just be pruning the branches or polishing the apples.”
in our manifesto. As long as they have a commitment to consensus-based decision-making and to challenging any kind of authoritarian, oppressive behaviour and not tolerating racism, sexism and classism. When we do have differences, we try to work through them.” While The Crooked Spoke had to tell someone, who had a repeated history of sexually aggressive and inappropriate behaviour and refused to take accountability and responsibility for it, to leave years ago, Bell doesn’t believe Black Star has
anarchism continues to have an interesting
actually mean battle plans and full-blown rev-
role. In Waitati, near Dunedin, there was a small
olution. “Radical is another term that is often
anarchist scene in the 1970s. Oddly, involved in
misunderstood,” Bell elaborates. “What radical
”The people I know who are involved don’t take
this scene was a man called Bruce Grenville who
actually means is looking at problems from the
themselves that seriously and generally have a
was an anarchist, film obsessionist and producer
roots rather than trying to reform the branches
good sense of humour,” Beau Murrah, a frequent
of artful stamps. Grenville gained notoriety for
of the system. Radical politics doesn’t just go ‘oh
Black Star member who became involved when
a hoax involving the fabrication of the Utopian
we need a new prime minister’ – that would just
he met members at Zinefest in 2013, told me. “I
Sultanate State of Oecussi-Ambeno on the Island
be pruning the branches or polishing the apples.
disagree with a huge amount of the literature
of Timor. He also discovered in a Napier garage
Radical politics says ‘actually the problem is at
and many of the ideas of fellow people involved
sale a long-missing 1965 original episode of
the roots and we need to pull this tree up and
at Black Star but that is exactly what I like about
Doctor Who. Fast forward thirty years to 2003
plant a new one.’”
it – being exposed to new and colourful things.”
and the infoshop Black Star Books emerged in
had such an incident.
In this way, the infoshop rejects all forms of
Dunedin. Now, Black Star’s official address is 111
The infoshop is organised and staffed by a
domination and discrimination, whether they
Moray Place. However, the premises is hidden
collective of volunteers who work non-hier-
are class exploitation, patriarchal privilege,
at the back of the building, resulting (as their
archically and make decisions by consensus.
racism, incarceration of refugees, homophobia,
website states) in “the phenomenon of people
This decision-making is implemented in almost
animal exploitation, or religious dogma. I ask
asking ‘where the F*** is Black Star Books?’”
every anarchist get together, even when the
Beau if this open mindset means that anything,
Luckily, there are detailed online instructions to
neo-nazis turn up to threaten their kind, as Bell
including illegal activities, could occur on Black
finding the place. Those not familiar with Black
tells me: “They tried to come in [to an anarchist
Star’s premises: “Blackstar itself engages in no
Star might know its sister project, The Crooked
conference in Christchurch] and threw beer bot-
illegal activities. Out of respect for CORSO, who
Spoke, which sits at the end of the driveway just
tles at us. We had to decide quickly altogether
host Blackstar, we don’t condone drug use on
behind the infoshop. The Crooked Spoke is a bike
what our responses would be. The ideas were
the premises because it might impede on other
repair project that provides help and the use of
discussed until a decision was come up with
activities that take place on the complex.”
tools and bicycle parts for those wanting to look
that everybody in the group was happy with.
after their bikes. With synched opening hours to
We came to the consensus that we’ll have a few
I leave Bell and other supporters of Black Star to
Black Star the two initiatives support each other
people sitting passively outside not engaging
continue cooking and return to the library area.
in various ways.
or discussing things with the neo-nazis but
From an initial browse, it doesn’t seem like the
just observing.”
place stocks The Anarchist Cookbook – the
With a purported Facebook mission of “freedom”
infamous guide book filled with instructions on
the infoshop serves a range of functions, which
As well as non-hierarchal, Black Star is an open
how to make explosives, telecommunications
include that of a community space in support of
collective, which means anyone is welcome to
phreaking devices and how-to-riot. It’s the one
flax-root (a play on grass-root) organising, as
join as long as they are willing to volunteer
product of anarchist history that I was familiar
well as selling a range of independently-pro-
some time and only make choices for the col-
with. The original book, written by a passionate
duced literature, patches and t-shirts that all
lective through decentralised and consensus
19-year-old William Powell, was made in protest
relate to a diverse range of subjects such as
decision-making. “Everyone’s membership in
of the United State’s involvement in the Viet-
anarchism, animal liberation, community and
the collective is contingent on everyone in the
nam War. Although Powell is now a born-again
workplace organising, art, queer sexualities
collective being in consensus on them being part
Christian working for an NGO in Kuala Lumpur
and genders, indigenous struggles, feminism
of the collective,” Bell tells me. “We’re an open
and has adamantly renounced the book, various
and radical ecologies. Black Star also provides
collective and so people are welcome to join but
versions and expansions of The Anarchist Cook-
a photocopying service, for koha, for community
the basic requirements would be that you come
book are still available online. The Anarchist
groups, causes and events. While this makes it a
to meetings and participate in the space in some
Cookbook is internationally known and likely
radical space for radical ideas, “radical” doesn’t
ways and that people agree with basic principles
to be one of the central images of anarchy for
22 | Issue 20 Critic
F E AT U R E
most non-participants. Empty handed, I turned
protest works great in countries where nearly
consume, but at the end of the day, putting all
around to re-examine the numerous shelves of
all human rights are respected and lives are
the onus onto individual people to consume
zines and books wondering what purpose they
worth something according to the powers that
ethically in order to make the world a better
served. Beau later tells me that these zines,
be, which is a privilege we have in New Zea-
place is actually a way of distracting from the
like “any other printed material, host words
land. But, for example, the Zapatistas people in
real systems of power and decision making
or images – but a zine is a zine because of the
Chiapas, Mexico had an indigenous uprising to
that provide us with the options that we have
nature of the DIY medium itself. There is some-
try and defend their lands, which were being
for consumption.”
thing particularly freeing and creative about
confiscated, and their indigenous sovereignty.
making a publication yourself for a limited run.”
They armed themselves for this defence but they
“To be able to live off everything that you’ve
were facing the Mexican military that didn’t have
grown yourself in a completely ethical way
In search for similar stories to that of the origins
respect for their lives. They managed to create
means having to retract from society and go
of The Anarchist Cookbook and delving further
an autonomous zone of indigenous sovereignty
live in the hills somewhere, and even that’s
into overseas practices of anarchism, when
– they couldn’t have done that without using
a privilege that not everybody has. A solo
I met with Bell another time she told me that
arms. I’m not going to sit on a high horse as a
mum with five kids doesn’t have the ability
before coming to Dunedin she
to take some moral high
travelled Europe for four and
stance and extract herself
a half years – during which she moved between different squats and anarchist social centre spaces. “There are so many more people in Europe and layers of history of anarchical organising to be built in and many abandoned buildings to squat in. The anarchist scene is much bigger and connected there. I met anarchists as I went and found out about
“I don’t feel any sense of moral superiority in terms of my consumption practices because, at the end of the day, I don’t think it’s possible to consume ethically under capitalism.”
completely from capitalism and the state, but neither should she have to bear the brunt of feeling guilty and responsible for the destructive or unethical production processes that go into the products that she has to buy because she can afford them. It’s complicated. It’s really complicated. We all have to start with what we
other anarchists’ spaces and
can. We have to have those
projects in different cities. I
conversations about the fact that the way that things are
lived on protest camps and I volunteered labour, like helping out cooking
white, western activist and say that the Zapati-
organised at this point in history and in our
in People’s Kitchens or finding goods for Free
stas people should have practiced non-violent,
culture are not inevitable, they’re not the best
Shops, in exchange for staying. I also helped
peaceful protest.”
way and they’re not going to stay this way because things always change. We need to try
build barricades sometimes when spaces were at risk of being evicted by the police, which
As Bell tells me this, I look around the cafe
to be active and imaginative about how things
involves scavenging whatever materials you
where we sit drinking coffee. Considering what
could change.”
can find and thinking creatively.”
I’ve learned about anarchy, something still bugs me. I ask her if, despite her ideals, what
I end the interview with Bell and we get up to
Creating barricades and other more overt acts
she felt about the inevitable reality where she
leave from the staff cafe at the university. Dis-
of militant resistance are frequently linked to
had to submit to the consumption of products
rupted by the drilling sounds the whole way
anarchy. However, there are many different
of capitalism and participation in systems of
through our conversation, we both stop to stare
types of anarchist thought that take the idea of
central government. Focusing on consumption,
down at the huge construction work on the Leith.
non-hierarchy more in one direction than the
Bell’s response was enlightening: “I don’t feel
Considering the huge costs of this, Bell notes the
other. “In general, anarchists aren’t pacifists in
any sense of moral superiority in terms of my
campus wide cuts to tutorials. This final obser-
the sense that sometimes a use of force can be
consumption practices because, at the end of
vation, on the back of what I’ve already learned
necessary and effective in defence for whatever
the day, I don’t think it’s possible to consume
from talking to Bell and going to Black Star, leads
the project is. It depends on the context, I don’t
ethically under capitalism. You might be eating
me to consider other changes around campus
believe there’s ever going to be just one tactic
the most animal cruelty-free meal, but who
and purported changes that national parties
that’s appropriate for all campaigns,” Bell tells
grew those soybeans? How were they shipped
hope to win the general election on. I turn back
me, who has been involved in overseas riots and
here? Were the labourers paid who picked those
again to look at all the pulled up dirt and – while
demonstrations where there was heavy con-
beans? You could drive yourself crazy trying to
I’m still to understand a lot about anarchy –
frontation with the police. “Peaceful, non-violent
figure out the most puritanical ethical way to
I find myself searching for those flax roots.
Critic Issue 20 | 23
F E AT U R E
T l
* Trans F E AT U R E
life G
By Lucy Hunter
ender identity is so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t think about it until we meet somebody who doesn’t conform to traditional ideas of a “masculine man” or a “feminine woman.” Even with advances, such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage last year, being trans* presents legal and social problems (which cis-gendered people don’t have to worry about) simply because their personal identity does not match our arbitrary ideas of “male” and “female.” The word trans* is an umbrella term to include anybody from a diverse range of genders, sexualities, and identities who do not identify with a binary cis-gender. Identities include transgender, genderqueer, genderfluid, and agender, among others. “Cis” is a word for people whose gender identity conforms to their biological sex as assigned at birth. Intersex people are born with both male and female physical characteristics.
I spoke to Dragonair* (alias chosen after her favourite Pokémon, which morphed from one form into another) about what it is
like to be a transgender person in Dunedin. She says coming out was “awesome” and the support of the people around her has
been “overwhelming.” But being transgender isn’t easy. “I am a woman,” Dragonair tells me, “but trans* is an undeniable part of that. If somebody asks I’d say female, but it’s the same as any
minority or oppressed group. I don’t want people to think ‘this is my transgendered friend,’ it would be better to say this is my friend. Other than that, things like feeling generally uncomfortable or a point of focus in public spaces can often be a discouraging
thing, especially if you’re shy anyway. I’m kind of trapped within tolerant circles – elsewhere I feel I am treated differently, like a novelty or something. I’ve also only recently come out, so my trans* experiences are limited. I fear the violence, hatred and discrimination many trans* people face. At my last job people used my old name behind my back. It concerns me to think of the opportunities I may be denied on the basis of my gender.” She doesn’t feel she “should” have been born in a “different body,” as though there was some kind of mistake. She says, “That’s a common kind of phrase that’s used to describe transgender people but it doesn’t necessarily work for me because it implies some sort of pre-determined sort of thing, like there’s some kind of reason behind everything. It’s almost a religious idea. So ‘should have been?’ No. Another often repeated thing is ‘I’m a woman in a man’s body’ or vice versa. But I don’t think that that whole idea of having the ‘wrong’ body is really true in any sense. I think this idea of men and women and gender is almost arbitrary. I think a lot of it is social construct. Yes I was born a girl, in the sense that there was something kind of innate in me that made me think that my biological body was not correct or right. But I think that so much of my experience of being transgendered is social, and it can’t be captured in saying I was born this way. I think so much is what you are conditioned to believe.” A common misconception is to conflate a gender with a certain sexuality. As transgender actress and producer Laverne Cox puts it, “Being gay is about who you want to go to bed with. Being trans* is about who you want to go to bed as.” Likewise, if somebody
Critic Issue 20 | 25
F E AT U R E
grabbed once going down Castle Street with my
says, “It is an intimate thing and sometimes
little brother who’d come down to stay. A bunch
Dragonair says, “I remember a guy once saying
part of it is explaining to people that there are
of guys threw something and we stopped, and
it would be gay if he wanted to make out with
limits to what you can ask. I suppose the big
they started yelling, “Are you a boy or a girl?” I
me, which is technically not true, but it shows
thing is what “genitals do you have?” I haven’t
ignored them. My brother was freaking out. He
people still have that misunderstanding. It
actually been asked that too many times, which
was fourteen. I ignored them and kept walk-
wouldn’t be gay to make out with me because
is good. It’s not always a conversation you’d
ing, but they came over and grabbed me and
I’m not a man, I’m a woman.”
want to have.” Not having virtual strangers
wouldn’t let me go until I gave them an answer.
asking about your genitals is a privilege
My brother was terrified.”
Education
*****************************************************
Dragonair doesn’t take offence to curiosity, but
unnecessary confusion over their own sexuality.
*****************************************************
is attracted to a trans* person, they may feel
cis-gendered people generally take for granted. Why should anyone feel they have the right to
And the bullying often holds a threat of violence.
ask somebody that?
Unfortunately this experience is so common for
A study from Auckland University of 8000 school
Kerry they have become hardened to it. They
children this year revealed that 1.2 per cent of them
Most people have some concept of binary
feel un-phased when people throw bottles at
identified as transgender, and a further 2.5 per
transitions, from female-to-male or vice versa.
them unless it gets close to hitting them. If one
cent were unsure of their gender. Nearly 20 per
Things are perhaps more difficult for Kerry, who
of their friends gets cornered and harassed, they
cent of those who identified as transgender had
is non-binary gendered and asexual. “Either of
feel relief that they weren’t physically hurt. Kerry
attempted suicide and around 50 per cent had
those identities mean like a half hour conversa-
even said, “One of my friends got jumped outside
been physically abused. Yet there is a gaping
tion explaining what the fuck it means. It’s so
their house by a couple of guys and punched
“Being gay is about who you want to go to bed with.”
tiring and it would be nice to be able to not
a few times. They cracked one of the bones in
have it assumed, or, failing that, to be able
their face. It was like, thank fuck they didn’t
to come out and have people know what
end up in hospital. It was a relief. Again, that’s
it means.” And it can get in the
especially with trans-feminine people. There’s
way of everyday life and study.
a good chance of getting really, really hurt.”
Kerry is often asked questions
Verbal abuse is common. They told me “I was
about their gender and sexual
walking home a while ago and someone stopped
orientation and says, “It’s not always particu-
in front of me, spat at my feet, and said “fag”
larly invasive stuff but a lot of political shit as
and kept walking. I thought, “Yes! They didn’t
well. It’s like, I’m just in a lab, I don’t actually
think I was a woman!” That should not be my
want to have this conversation. I want to move
response to that!”
on with my day.” In their experience what
hole in our education system that leaves many
makes life difficult is this every day, low-level
school-leavers uneducated about different queer
stuff. They say, “The big things are rubbish, but
identities, with most of sex education focused on
you know, you walk into a room and everyone
heterosexual sex, safe sex, and reproduction. The
gets your pronouns wrong, or hearing people
burden then falls on members of the queer com-
make snide comment, and it’s like, oh, I don’t
munity to educate others on their personal iden-
feel safe here.”
tification, which often gets tiring and sometimes
intrusive. Dragonair says, “If you’re presented with a concept and you don’t understand what
it means, don’t make assumptions. Treat each
Toilets on campus
Queer Support have submitted a proposal to Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne to get more gen-
Transphobia
der-neutral toilets on campus, asking that half of all toilets be designated gender-neutral. The proposal also includes changing the standard
person as an individual and don’t ascribe to
The malevolent effects of misunderstanding
male/female signs to include all male or female
them a whole set of ideas about what they may
and intolerance are felt by Kerry who has
identifying people. Kerry explains: “We want
or may not be. Know that it’s OK to ask questions
been bullied by strangers for not conforming
all the signage changed on half of all existing
but remember self-education is a big thing.
to a mainstream gender identity. They told me
bathrooms. We recognise that’s it’s important to
It’s not the responsibility of queer people to
“The times that I’ve been the most scared were
have those single spaces available, especially for
do that.” She compares the experience to an
in first year. I was at Knox and I had to walk
survivors of sexual violence. It’s not fair to force
Indian woman with a bindi being constantly
down Castle Street to get home every day. I was
them into vulnerable, open spaces, but it’s also
asked, “what does it mean?” when you could easily
seventeen and just starting to figure shit out. I
an important part of the proposal, acknowledg-
educate yourself about it. She says, “It would be kind
didn’t really have a support network like I do
ing and getting sort of written support from the
of nice to just sort of hang out at parties and not have
now. On the summer afternoons where you get
university that binary-identified trans* people
people asking you that. I don’t want anyone to think
groups of guys drinking on the lawns – they yell
are welcome to use the facilities of their iden-
I’m speaking on behalf of trans* people because I’m
and throw stuff and it’s quite scary. It was like
tified gender. You shouldn’t be forced into the
telling you my personal experience.”
walking a gauntlet to get home every day. I got
other gender or into the neutral spaces, which
26 | Issue 20 Critic
F E AT U R E
women in particular depicted as people setting
people will hopefully increase awareness that
out to trick poor, innocent straight men into
gender is not always correlated to biological sex,
making out with women who have male gen-
and help people with diverse gender identities
itals. In reality, the threat of violence regularly
On the upside, Kerry says their involvement in
to feel welcome in gendered spaces.
makes transwomen, in particular, very weary of
the political movement has been wonderful and
so much as flirting with somebody without them
they feel that attitudes toward trans* people is
telling them they are trans*, for fear of being
starting to change. They say, “As soon as things
accused of deception and “provoking” violence.
get into the public eye, which is mostly thanks
“Passing”
*****************************************************
over again in mainstream media, with trans-
change to include male or female identified
*****************************************************
is what we are kind of worried about.” A signage
The future
to Laverne Cox (who is the first transgender
“Passing” is the insidious idea that a transgen-
Transwoman Amy P. explains: “For a trans
person to be nominated for an Emmy award),
der person is automatically aiming to “pass”
person, a cloud hangs over every flirty inter-
everyone gets excited about it. It’s going to lose
as the socially perceived construction of the
action. I met a guy at a social event recently and
its novelty value in a bit but at the moment
binary gender they identify with. It carries the
got the feeling he might have been flirting with
everyone’s excited about it and it feels like
implication that the person is not actually of the
me, but I didn’t know if he knew. I was scared
things are changing. A spike in visibility is going
gender they are presenting, but are “passing,”
a little the whole time because he was much
to improve things at the ground level. Even if it
like there is a test being sat, and as though if
larger than me. I waited a month and a half of
still takes ages for the bureaucracy to change
they make the mark they are succeeding at
hanging out, without so much as a touch on
and you still have to get through all the paper-
fooling the perceiver. It is a nasty, destructive
the arm, before telling him. It took that long for
concept. Dragonair is scathing of the concept
me to feel sure I’d be safe either way.
of “passing,” saying, “I think it’s stupid on so
If you’re saying to yourself, “Well, you
many levels. It’s a very outdated concept. In
shouldn’t have led him on!” remember
older generations, everything was binary. If you
that some men consider simply being
came out as being trans*, you had to make the
in the room with them to be “leading
full change as much as possible, as though that’s
them on.” You think I’d be safer wearing
what you should want, and that’s not the case.
a sign around my neck? Some
For example some transwomen might want to
people are enraged just by the
have hormone treatment, have hair removal,
fact that I exist.”
have breast augmentation and all these things but they might want to keep their genitalia. I think in old times part of the parcel was that you
did everything possible. Another reason why it’s ridiculous is because you’re not passing,
Bureaucracy
“Being trans* is about who you want to go to bed as.” work, to get whatever transition healthcare you
need, to have more of the general population
you’re being. So passing still implies the idea
Bureaucracy presents further problems for
understand it and be OK with it is going to make
of trickery or defeat. It doesn’t hold to the idea
trans* people. It is difficult for people to have
a huge difference.”
that you actually are who you say you are, it’s
their gender changed on official forms like birth
not a façade, you are being. If you fail at this
certificates and passports, requiring the person
Both Kerry and Dragonair insisted they speak
really arbitrary rule, it’s seen as a really bad
to undergo psychological analysis and often to
from personal experience and not on behalf of
thing. It shouldn’t matter. It’s a kind of disgusting
have begun physical changes like hormone
the trans* community as a whole. It is particu-
thing. Like the idea that if I want to use a female
treatment or surgery. To get gender changed
larly important to remember that just as trans*
restroom in public, I should be doing my best to
to an X, showing an agendered identification,
people are expressing their gender identity, so
present hyper-feminine so that people know
is practically impossible, and something usu-
are cis-gendered people; the only difference
that I’m really trying to pronounce my femininity
ally reserved for babies officially identified
is that a cis-gender doesn’t invoke the same
and say, “I’m allowed to be here.” I don’t think
as intersex.
level of inspection from others. Dragonair says
that I should have to do that.”
“Just the idea that you’re expected to behave in
Dragonair says, “It’s something that I feel
a certain way because of something biological.
“Passing” as a concept is a double-edged sword
should be a lot easier. The only thing that so
It’s ridiculous. Everyone comes into contact
in that it implies that if the person doesn’t “pass”
far I’ve been able to change without having to
with gender, everyone is constantly presenting
the arbitrary conditions of the observer then
pay money and sign a form is being asked to
gender, everyone has a gender identity, but as a
they have failed somehow, and if they do “pass”
be called “Ms” by some people. You can’t ask
trans* person that your experience forces you to
they may be perceived as having succeeded in
to be called by a preferred name. Again, a little
question it really, really strongly. Not everyone
“tricking” the general public into thinking they
thing that’s not being beaten up in the street,
goes through that.”
are something they are not. The idea of “passing”
but still adds to the frustration of showing that
and it’s implied “trickery” is portrayed over and
people aren’t accepting of change.”
Critic Issue 20 | 27
Remote An Island in a Sea of Startups By Sarah Ley-Hamilton
28 | Issue 20 Critic
W
a story of a friend of a friend’s grandmother who
personnel just didn’t work out. For companies
actually took the bait and was swindled out of a
of that size, with extensive infrastructures and
healthy inheritance. Thankfully for us, signing
bureaucratic policies and processes, the concept
up for a work-from-home scheme isn’t the only
of letting some of their staff work from home is
way of achieving that work/life balance we’re
unfathomable. On the flipside, there are some
all so desperate to attain.
notable large-scale tech enterprises that have managed to successfully navigate the chal-
For the titans of the business world, remote
lenges of having disparate team members. The
working appears to be a divisive concept. Some
volunteer creators and administrators of the film
herald it as the revolution of the modern working
community site IMDB (Internet Movie DataBase)
When you hear the word “remote,” it doesn’t
environment whereas others hotly refute its
didn’t even meet each other until they were all
exactly conjure up feelings of prosperity, abun-
claims to increase productivity and job satisfac-
in the same room signing a contract that passed
dance and opportunity – feelings that we are
tion. Then, as always, there are those of us that
IMDB into the hands of Jeff Bezos, the founder of
told to look for in our chosen career paths. How-
just can’t decide which side of the fence we’re
Internet stronghold Amazon.
ever, for some of us, not putting on suitable office
on at all. Someone who was in the “against”
attire (or even pants) and logging on from the
camp is the current CEO of the billion dollar
Technology plays a crucial part in making this
comfort of our homes is a reality. There seems
empire Yahoo, Marissa Mayer. When Marissa
all possible, even in just the last five years we’ve
to be a mystique around the concept of working
was appointed in early 2012 she caused a media
seen huge advances in the software and systems
from home or being a “remote worker,” an illu-
storm after an internal memo, which informed
that support remote working, you no longer
sion of pyjama-clad grandeur with an easy ride
their hundreds of remote workers
to comfortable success. But what does it really
to ship in to Yahoo offices or ship
mean to throw off the shackles of a nine-to-five
out permanently, was made rather
office job and take up residence in the sunniest
external. The reason behind her
corner of your home?
decision was that there was a collaborative aspect that was lost
“Woah, back it up,” I hear you say. “What’s
when workers communicated
all this remote nonsense you’re blabbing on
digitally, only a mildly ironic
about?” Combining your place of work with the
statement from a company that
space that you are living isn’t a new concept, in
offers online communication and
fact, it’s one that’s been around for thousands
collaboration tools.
of years. It’s pretty easy to forget that prior to the industrial revolution and the introduction
Before Marissa became Yahoo’s
of factories that necessitated a specific place
CEO she worked for another big
of work, a lot of what we commonly referred to
name in the business – the big-
as “work” took place in and around the humble
gest name – Google. Marissa was
dwelling we now call home.
employee number 20 and their first female software engineer.
“When Amazon isn’t selling you novelty toothpick holders, discounted iPhones and all the meaningless shit in the world that money can buy, it’s selling you ‘web services.’”
Obviously working from home isn’t a great fit
She was instrumental in building
for all job descriptions or industries. While the
a large part of what we now know
concept of a surgeon working from their garage
as Google. It’s not surprising to
or a lawyer Skyping a court-room from their
hear that Google, alongside other
living room is an amusing idea to behold, the
tech giants Apple, try to keep
truth of the matter is that, in practice, the concept
their telecommuting employees
is mildly horrifying and mostly unachievable.
to a minimum. So it begs the question, if the
have to dial in to your company’s intranet via
However, some jobs naturally lend themselves
big names in business aren’t getting on board
an ominously titled “Virtual Private Network” to
to being “remotified” (no that’s not a word, yes
then is there any merit in it at all?
collaborate with the rest of your team. Technology makes up for the most part the tools of the
I will use it) and they’re not all just reserved for programmers or developers. You may have been
There are pros and cons to every situation in life
remote workers trade; not being equipped with
tempted by the intriguing advertisements for
and working from home is no different. In the
the right ones can be the difference between a
get-rich-quick or work-from-home schemes
case of Yahoo, a company that employs people
successful venture or a failed experiment. It’s
scattered across the pages of websites if you
across a multitude of locations and divisions,
probably no coincidence that Jeff Bezos and
happened to find yourself on the Internet with-
having some of its workers based at home
his Amazon peeps are now a huge part of what
out an ad-blocker. You may have even heard of
disconnected from a large portion of its core
makes remote working possible. When Amazon
Critic Issue 20 | 29
isn’t selling you novelty toothpick holders, dis-
to take its place. It’s an exciting, dynamic and
with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose,
counted iPhones and all the meaningless shit in
rapidly mutating environment and it’s the
the prospect of becoming an entrepreneur lit a
the world that money can buy, it’s selling you
first port of call for anyone with plans of world
fire within me that I didn’t think was possible.
“web services.” The aptly titled Amazon Web
domination. Everyday life in a startup is tough;
Services is just one of the names in the realm of
resources are tight and things are constantly
When I had left school five years previously,
cloud computing and it’s a pretty big one at that.
changing. This isn’t a place for someone who
being an entrepreneur wasn’t something that
isn’t comfortable with change and lots of it, most
seemed probable or attainable. Legends like
of which you can only hope is for the better
Zuckerberg were an anomaly. But now it’s not a
So what in the hell is cloud computing? Put simply, it provides platforms and interfaces
totally foreign concept to hear of another young
that connect large repositories of data to “The
When I left high school I didn’t go the same route
hotshot making their first million before they’ve
Internet” (read in the tone of SpongeBob’s
as most of my classmates. I decided against the
even hit their legal drinking age. I had always
“Imagination”) where people like you and I can
glossy pamphlets and framed accolades of aca-
wanted to work for myself – the ability to control
access it from a multitude of locations. Please
demia and instead headed into the workforce, or
the hours I worked, the environment I was in and
note that, much like the Internet itself, descrip-
what every parent affectionately calls “The Real
have the freedom to decide what I wanted to do every day – and being an entrepreneur seemed like the answer.
“I decided against the glossy pamphlets and framed accolades of academia and instead headed into the workforce, or what every parent affectionately calls ‘The Real World.’”
A couple of months nurturing the seedlings of a startup, a million unexplored ideas and one too many interactions with total ass-hat “entrepreneurs” later, it’s fair to say that I became disillusioned with the concept. They tell you that all it takes is an idea, passion and shit tonne of hard-work. They’re right about one thing, it’s a metric shit tonne of hard work and, unlike some jobs where you can relax for a bit or rest on your laurels, you only get out what you put in – and what comes out is significantly lower percentage that what you started with and a side of burnout. With unrealistic dreams of creating the next
tions of cloud computing (like the one given
World.” It didn’t take me long to figure out what
Facebook firmly rationalised and only the
above) almost always don’t tell the full story,
jobs I didn’t like doing. Year after year was a pro-
embers of my original fire remaining, I started
but they almost always work well enough for
cess of elimination while looking for a job that
to lose faith in the entrepreneurial dream and the
us laymen, so don’t panic.
held the delicate balance of being something I
world of startups. My job at the time was coming
was interested in as well as being something I
to a close and I had to make some big decisions
The Cloud, while it enables so much of what
was capable of doing. For someone who didn’t go
about what direction I wanted to head next.
we can do, is only part of the puzzle – the other
to University this was proving to be a challenge
Then I saw a post from a local startup whose
pieces are made up of the services within the
that was all too insurmountable.
own product I used every day. They were looking
Cloud, and to the remote worker, these ser-
for staff. My heart soared at the thought of it
vices or tools are what make it all possible. An
Then, almost happenstance, I attended a startup
and I threw together the world’s most informal
increasingly popular model for distributing these
weekend that I had ummed and ahhed about
cover letter that exploded with an embarrassing
tools falls under the category of SaaS or Software
going to, only deciding to at the last minute.
amount of enthusiasm.
as a Service – subscription-based services that
Boy, am I glad I went. If you’ve never been to
live in the Cloud. These include Google Drive and
a startup weekend and the opportunity arises,
Fast forward one month and I was working
Gmail, Salesforce, Facebook, and local export
take it. You will learn so much about yourself
remotely from a spare room in our flat at an
heroes Vend and Xero.
in one weekend that you won’t even care that
unused dining table, part of a small (but effec-
you sacrificed two extended sleep-ins (the usual
tive) 100 per cent distributed team in a rapidly
SaaS companies are the volatile life-blood of
leisurely 2pm wake up calls) for the experience.
evolving and growing tech startup. My role is
the delicate eco-sanctuary that is the startup
After the 48 hours was over, I was fizzing. I had
one on the front line, helping users navigate the
world, they come and go as quickly as discerning
pushed myself to the limit, tested boundaries
no-man’s land between confusion and clarity.
consumers dictate. As soon as one fails to create
and flexed “muscles” that I didn’t even know
It’s arguably (depending on who you talk to) one
an audience for itself, another five will step up
I had. I was totally hooked. I left the weekend
of the most important roles in a startup – in fact,
30 | Issue 20 Critic
“I don’t feel any sense of moral superiority in terms of my consumption practices because, at the end of the day, I don’t think it’s possible to consume ethically under capitalism.
in any business, as your interactions with them
difficulty letting things go but with my transition
that facilitates and makes remote working
will colour their decision about whether or not
to life as a remote worker I quickly realised the
possible is advanced, we’re still a long way off
to stick around.
true level of my workaholism. Any lingering
teleportation. That being said I will say one thing
doubts I had about the “high work ethic”
of isolation, it does force you to make the most
Those of us who have ever worked in a custom-
statement on some god awful iteration of an
of the interactions that you do have.
er-facing role know that there is no end to the
old CV were now long gone. Unlike most jobs
service or support that you can provide. The
where there are honeymoon periods before the
Long gone are the days of cleaning toilets, night
power of the Internet means that you can have
excitement wears off and you settle into tedious
shifts that end in the early hours of the morning
customers located in any part of the world that
patterns of mind-numbing rhythms, you don’t
and standing on concrete floors in $10 shoes that
might need your help at any point in time. In my
have that opportunity. Everything is moving
make your feet ache for hours afterwards. As I sit
first few weeks as a remote worker I effectively
just a fraction of a second faster than you can
in my “home office,” which resembles more of a
worked for 40-something hours a week (when
keep up. All you can do to keep your head above
rummage room filled with unloved items lying in
I was only contracted for 30). It even became a
water is to stay one step ahead of the customer
wait for a garage sale than a place of work, I look
running joke and a source of amusement for my
and forget the rest.
back over my close to 10 years in the workforce
co-workers at my horror of realising it was 3pm
and reflect on where I’ve come from and what I’ve You can have as many virtual tools at your dis-
achieved. There is nowhere I’d rather be than here,
posal (I think our current running rate is about
on an island in a sea of startups. Because while
In startup life you’re measured on your output.
14) but there are times that these aren’t enough
there’s sand in my pyjama pants, the reception’s
As a remote worker you’re the one that has
and you long to hear a voice or see a face and
not always great and at times the beach is empty,
to manage your time. I was always aware of
experience physical contact in something as
as far as the eye can see the view on the horizon
my perfectionist tendencies and I knew I had
simple as a handshake. While the technology
is an amazing thing to behold.
and I hadn’t taken a break for lunch yet.
Critic Issue 20 | 31
art
ART EDITOR: HANNAH COLLIER | ART@CRITIC.CO.NZ | @HannahCollier21
Gary Currin Hints for the Incomplete Traveller
His work is stretched across the gallery walls,
eye into and across the surface of the panels.
drawing on cinematographic traditions of
Using a limited palette, he layers tone upon
representation. Currin’s paintings allude to
tone, creating a rich depth within the lightness
sepia-toned photographs or frames from fad-
of the framework. More figurative than his earlier
ed eight-millimetre film and each small panel
bodies of work, Currin has populated the stories
reveals a self-contained world where individual
with people and places that are almost recognis-
ary Currin was in Wanganui in 1952 and
stories overlap and time and place are fluid.
able. (Almost, as they appear as half-forgotten
has been exhibiting his work since 1976.
Currin directs the framing and focus of each
memories, which have warped and changed
His paintings and exhibitions have
“shot,” revealing only parts of the wider narra-
over time.)
gained national momentum, placing Currin
tive structure and, in this, it seems that Currin's
within the sphere of significant New Zealand
paintings are not merely allegories conveying
Accompanying the “storyboards” is a single large
artists alongside people like McCahon, Hotere,
meaning through symbolic representation, nor
work on canvas, which showcases Currin’s skill
and Woollaston. Currin was a finalist in the
do they seek to imitate reality. Rather they em-
with his medium. From a raised point of view, the
Wallace Visa Gold Award in 1999, and a finalist
ploy a sort of lyrical form of abstraction, where
viewer looks down onto a shifting landscape that
in the James Wallace Awards 10 times since 1995.
the emotive and expressive qualities of colour,
is touched with light. Dominating the foreground
He also won the “people's choice” vote in 2004.
shape and brushwork, capture first the artist's
are shadowed plains and a solid sweep of hillside;
In 2008 Currin won the grand prize in the Team
feelings, and subsequently the viewer's.
Currin captures simultaneously the solidity of
Milford Gallery Exhibited until 27 August 2014
G
McMillan “Where Brush Meets Bonnet” BMW Art
the landscape, and its mutability.
Award and, in 2011, a merit in the NZ Painting
Landscapes appear to be the subject, yet the dark
Behind Currin's paint application lays a history
and Printmaking Award. His work is included
shades, the atmospheric smudges of light and
of New Zealand's art. If we are looking for signs
in various significant collections and, excitingly,
shadow, present moments of another world that
of our painterly traditions there are hints of John
he is currently being exhibited here in Dunedin
shifts between experience, memory and dream.
Gully's somewhat Arcadian landscapes, a certain
at the Milford Gallery.
The oil paint allows for this type of rendering,
darkness of the New Zealand psyche implied
as the fluidity of the medium parallels the fluid
by Colin McCahon, and even Toss Woollaston's
The exhibition title, Hints for the Incomplete
nature of memory, dream and reflection, as it
"mountainous scrumblings," come to mind when
Traveller, encapsulates the experience of Garry
passes through our thoughts as flickering, blurred
looking at Currin’s work, but in the end Currin's
Currin’s paintings. The works are suggestive
fragmentary images. It’s very Edvard Munch.
paintings provide us with a visual negotiation
rather than explanatory; Currin tells part of the
of man's subtle and shifting relationships with
story but leaves viewers time and space to extend
The individual paintings in the exhibition are
the land, with history and with our sense of
and complete the narrative as it suits them. From
small, intense works and they radiate within
the spiritual.
my perspective, the painting seems to reflect
their delicate frames. Currin uses overexposed
the moments a traveller vaguely remembers.
points of light as visual signposts that draw the
By Hannah Collier | @HannahCollier21
PAUL MASEYK
ONE POT WON DER Critic Issue 20 | 33
fil m
Guardians of the Galaxy
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is abducted into space,
that you can not only enjoy, but also invest
and then quickly jumps 26 years in the future,
yourself in. So few films in this genre create
introducing Quill to us as the space outlaw he has
dialogue-heavy moments that aren’t dull, awk-
grown up to become. He and an unlikely group
ward or entirely expositional. Gunn has created a
t was a big risk for Marvel to move their
of other outlaws, including the scheming and
movie (well, franchise, with the announcement
massive franchise into space. After all, the
wise-cracking raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper)
of the sequel) that has characters and relation-
Space Opera is a swing-or-miss genre that
and the outrageously adorable tree man Groot
ships that have you eagerly waiting for action
began with one colossal hit, in the form of
(Vin Diesel), band together to overcome a threat
sequences to finish, so that you can watch them
Star Wars, but has been predominantly misses
to the universe.
interact once again.
if Guardians is commercially a hit, but by God,
James Gunn has accomplished with Guardians
It is not without great thought that I compare this
let me tell you now, it sure as hell is a critical
what every action movie tries and seldom few
movie to Star Wars. But the truth is, this movie
one in my books.
achieve, and that is melding comedy and action
is so exciting and fun that it has the potential to
into an experience that is both exhilarating to
be this generation’s Star Wars. I am not normally
Based on one of Marvel’s lesser-known comic
watch while at the same time being awesomely
a repeat viewer, but I am desperate to see this
book franchises, Guardians of the Galaxy opens
fun. The movie expertly balances stunningly
movie again!
the scope of the cinematic universe to, well, the
conceived and executed action sequences with
universe itself. The story starts when a young
scenes of dialogue and character development
By Baz Macdonald | @kaabazmac
Glaswegian men into her van with flirtatious
people’s heads. Let’s just say this project probably
the self in our contemporary world, and choose
chit chat, and driving them to her scary meat
wouldn’t get the approval of the ethics committee.
not to do what it is told. This theme of disobe-
A
Directed by James Gunn
I
in the 40 years since. The coming weeks will tell
A+
H
Under the Skin Directed by Jonathan Glazer
arvesting human flesh for your alien homeworld’s meat industry is a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. Scarlett
Johansson (or ScarJo, as she likes to be called) plays an enigmatic seductress that has a disgusting job to do here on Earth: luring local
grinder house, where she proceeds to get naked
dience, to me, immediately red flags The Matrix
with them until they die. Naturally, not one of
The amazing thing is that this story works despite
trilogy, a thematic homage perhaps reinforced
these men ever protests, because, come on,
only a tiny amount of dialogue and absolutely
when the alien tries to experience chocolate cake
ScarJo beeeuuubs!
zero exposition. To find meaning (and plot!) in
and orgasms. This alien has the appearance of
this film, we have to think literally, laterally, and
a human, and may even be able to converse
When you know ahead of time that this movie
deeply about what we see. We follow the alien
and feel sensations, but through its behaviour
was filmed using hidden camera footage of real
carrying out her meat grinding function until she
it reveals itself to us to be horrifyingly lacking in
people from the street, it makes it shocking to
catches a glimpse of herself (itself?) in a mirror,
the most essential human trait: empathy. This is
watch. One assumes the CGI and full frontal
and is suddenly confronted with that ultimate
a simply astounding film, for philosophers and
male nudity scenes were filmed after informing
existential question: who is looking back? Thus
ScarJo anatomy enthusiasts alike.
the men about the production, but other than
begins the incredible journey of this film, the
that, it’s terrifying to see her messing with real
opportunity for an alien to explore the concept of
34 | Issue 20 Critic
By Andrew Kwiatkowski | @CriticTeArohi
fil m
FILM EDITOR: Andrew Kwiatkowski | FILM@CRITIC.CO.NZ
CLASSIC FILM
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Directed by John Hughes
I
once asked my family if I could skip school and stay at home; unfortunately, they said no. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off always makes me
wonder if my hypothetical day off would have been as cool as his. Probably not. I mean, I asked if I could stay at home. Sooo not “choice” of me. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) decides that it’s too beautiful of a Chicago day to be spent taking a test on European Socialism. He manages to convince his parents, as well as the whole town, that he’s ill, despite the disbelief of his sister and the Dean of Students, Edward Rooney. Ferris then forces his best friend, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), to help get his girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara), out of class. Cameron hesitantly agrees and impersonates Sloane’s father, informing
The Dark Horse
surprised, It’s the way of things – Gisborne
Rooney that her grandmother has died. Plot twist:
not Hollywood.
she’s been alive this whole time!
he Dark Horse echoes the conversation
The central theme is the potency of culture.
as though you’re in Chicago with the trio as they
around Maori urbanisation started by
Characters of Maori decent who are completely
eat pancreas, visit an art museum, and sing on a
Once Were Warriors and, in my opinion,
disengaged with their heritage have replaced
parade float. Did I also mention that they drive
their culture with one of violence, aggression,
around in a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder
bitterness and rage. The Dark Horse pulls focus
convertible? In some ways, the moral of the film
Set in Gisborne, The Dark Horse tells the based-
onto the innocence of youth, and most poignant-
is, if you’re going to skip school, do it with style.
on-life story of Genesis Potini, who is a one-time
ly, the brutal way in which gang culture rips this
Don’t fall into the trap of, you know, suggesting
chess champion. Released from institutionalised
from the lives of the children it touches.
to your family that you should skip school and
A+
T
Directed by James Robertson
supersedes it.
What ensues will make you laugh and feel
care for severe bi-polar disorder, he is forced
stay at home all day.
to move in with his gang-member brother. In
This film engages in an astute exploration of men-
While some reviewers panned the film for
a move to restore normalcy to his own life, he
tal health. There is an intimacy in the cinematic
being too self-indulgent and disliked the protag-
joins a chess club for kids.
realisation of Genesis’ lapses in connection with
onist’s “rebel without a cause” personality, this
reality. The audience is an intimate witness to
film is a classic. It’s a fountain of unforgettable,
Many aspects of the plot are clichéd, but it’s
his suffering and attempts at recovery. The sense
impressive quotes, and the parade float scene
the cliché that opens a new and more honest
being that this is a directly proportional portrayal,
remains etched in time. Matthew Broderick per-
vantage point on this type of story, a classic
neither downplayed nor sensationalised.
fectly describes the film as a “lightning flash of
“overcoming of adversity for a shot at the cham-
your life” and I personally think this film should
pionship.” Genesis teaches disadvantaged youth,
James Napier Robertson has worked in New
be appreciated for what it is: a moment of youth-
leading them on to a tournament in The Big City,
Zealand media as an actor since the early 2000s.
ful freedom shared with your very best friends.
complete with montage scenes of them growing
In 2009 he wrote and directed his first feature
As Ferris Bueller says, “life moves pretty fast; if
as a group. But the reality of the situation is
length film, I’m Not Harry Jenson. With his only
you don’t stop and look around once in a while,
powerfully banal: the tournament is in a dank
other directing and writing credit being a short
you could miss it,” and that is valuable advice
community hall, their team is scrutinised by a
film, The Dark Horse is astonishing.
we should all remember.
By Sydney Lehman | @CriticTeArohi
By Mandy Te | @CriticTeArohi
white-gaze based on their class and ethnicity, and Genesis’s recovery is slow. No one’s
Critic Issue 20 | 35
food
FOOD EDITOR: SOPHIE EDMONDS | FOOD@CRITIC.CO.NZ | @Sophie_edo
Vegetable and Blue Cheese Hipster Soup
I
Ingredients
decided to call this soup hipster soup as
Stirring in some crumbled blue cheese makes all
when made in its purest form, from the
the difference. I’m not usually a blue fan but in
sad-looking veges at the bottom of your
this it is exceptionally delicious. Wait for it to go
fridge, it costs you next you nothing but some-
on special or use the Edam that has been sitting
>> 3 large carrots, diced
how taste delicious. You can also make it wan-
in the back of the fridge since late last year.
>> 3 stalks celery, diced >> 2 onions (red or brown), diced
nabe hipster soup by buying and making it with new veges and then dressing it up in that $420
METHOD
>> 6 cloves garlic, minced >> 1 leek, diced
moth-eaten designer cardigan also known as blue vein cheese.
Makes a really big stock pot’s worth
1. In the olive oil, sauté the onion and garlic until translucent. Add in the carrot, leek and celery
>> 3 handfuls spinach (fresh or frozen) >> 4 medium sized potatoes, chopped into chunks
I am ashamed to say that I made wannabe hipster
and sauté with the chilli, cayenne and salt
soup. I had to go and buy my vegetables for it –
until slightly softened. Throw in the potatoes,
>> 3 small kumara, chopped into chunks
mainly because my shelf of the fridge resembled
kumara and chickpeas and stir to coat them
>> I can chickpeas, drained
a barren wasteland. I did manage to find some
in the chilli.
>> 1 tablespoon olive oil >> 4 cups chicken stock
yellowing cabbage, however ... 2. Pour over the chicken stock and water then
>> 4 cups boiling water
Use up any vegetables you have lying around.
leave to simmer away for half an hour until the
>> 1 teaspoon chilli powder
The recipe below is merely a guideline. Use a
vegetables are all soft. Throw in the spinach
>> ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
drained tin of chickpeas to add substance and
and cook for a few more minutes so it is cooked.
>> 1 teaspoon salt >> Freshly ground pepper
body to your soup. Throw in a couple of chopped 3. Use a stick blender and blend until smooth.
>> 50g blue cheese plus extra for topping
to add greens to your soup without the cost. You
4. Stir through the crumbled cheese and season
>> Also try adding pumpkin, cabbage,
could be super hip and add the kale that you pur-
well with pepper. Serve with a further sprin-
chased at the farmers’ market on Saturday, too.
kling of blue cheese and you are good to go!
up potatoes and kumara too so it thickens nicely. Frozen spinach portions are a really cheap way
36 | Issue 20 Critic
kale, parsnip or broccoli.
games
GAMES EDITOR: BAZ MACDONALD | GAMING@CRITIC.CO.NZ | @kaabazmac
A
W
Rogue Legacy
Developed and Published by Cellar Door Games PC, PS3, PS4, PSVITA e are currently living in the midst
time you die you must choose an heir to continue
of the Renaissance period for the
your valiant quest, but setting no limits on the
platforming genre. Over the past
number of heirs you can use to accomplish this.
couple of years Indie developers have created a
In my first playthrough it took me a hilarious
litany of amazing new platforming experiences,
226 generations to complete the entire castle.
which is incredible when you consider that at its
Of course it is possible to use significantly less
core platforming games really only consist of
(one of the game’s trophies challenges players to
jumping from platform to platform. Nevertheless,
do it in less than 12), but I was having too much
we have been treated to some amazing titles,
fun just exploring the castle and slaying bad
including: Spelunky; 1001 Spikes; and now what
guys, feeling myself become increasingly more
this, such as magic spells and offensive and
has become, potentially, my favourite platformer
formidable and skilled with each generation.
defensive skills. However, the traits are much more character orientated. For example, a trait
of all time, Rogue Legacy. The castle itself is broken up into four sections,
might be that you’re colour blind, which would
So what is it that we have to thank for this pe-
each with a distinct aesthetic and monster set.
make your next run of the castle in black and
riod of amazing platformers? The rediscovery
It takes time to become familiar to the strategies
white. Some have gameplay effects, such as
and influence of the “roguelike,” of course – a
and traps of each area, meaning that it will take
this, while others just flesh out your characters
subgenre of game descended from 1980’s Rogue
a significant number of generations before you
personality or appearance such as the fact that
whose most basic mechanic is that the death of a
are familiar enough to finish a whole area and
they are bald, or nostalgic, or even gay.
character means restarting the game, or at least
kill its boss. For those thinking that playing the
starting from the beginning again. Like in the
same map over and over again sounds boring,
The goal of each run, especially early on, is more
Platforming Renaissance, contemporary game
you’re in luck. The map is randomly generated
about collecting gold than beating the game,
developers have been looking to this tradition
in each play-through, meaning that every new
as you can use this gold to unlock skills, buffs
with great success. Playing platformers of the
hero’s quest is unique. Of course, it is possible
and vendors to enhance and supplement your
80s and 90s is an experience coloured by both
to pay a portion of your loot to fix the structure
character and experience, making the game
the frustration of failing, and having to start
of the castle. But I couldn’t find the fun in that,
progressively more feasible. This mechanic also
again, a game, and the glee of completing it,
and preferred instead to plunder and pillage with
builds your castle with each upgrade, which
which was made all the sweeter by the attrition
a fresh castle each time.
makes you feel like you are building your family at the same time as destroying the evil nearby.
it took. Developers such as Cellar Door Games, responsible for Rogue Legacy, are emulating
Much like the castle, each heir you choose feels
this experience while using modern technology
unique also. This is due to a hilarious and clever
This clever, amusing and progressive game is an
and techniques to enhance it in ways previously
system of traits. Each time you die you get a
absolute joy to play. It is the kind of game that
unthought-of.
choice of three heirs to carry on your quest. These
you hope never ends, and thankfully due to it’s
heroic men and woman each have their own
roguelike structure it never needs to completely.
The premise of Rogue Legacy is an age old one.
distinct name (which lapse after a period into Sir
Also the levelling system is so robust that you
There is an ultimate evil in a castle, and it is the
and Lady whomever the II, III, IV etc.) and also a
can continue to build your character and home
sworn duty of one family to vanquish this evil.
distinct build including a class, ability and a set
long after the evil has been vanquished.
However, Rogue Legacy stretches this premise
of traits. The class dictates what kind of fighter
to it’s limit, by creating a roguelike in which each
you are and, similarly, the ability supplementing
By Baz Macdonald | @kaabazmac
Critic Issue 20 | 37
MUS I C
MUSIC EDITOR: ADRIAN NG | MUSIC@CRITIC.CO.NZ | @trickmammoth
NEW THIS WEEK / SINGLES IN REVIEW Merchandise - Green Lady Merchandise are a trio from Tampa, Florida. “Green Lady” is the second single from their upcoming album After The End. The track is a shameless rock ballad, in the same trajectory as Oasis' “Champagne Supernova” or Suede's “Beautiful Ones.” With the grandiose of The Smiths, and also with a significant portion of their charm, the production is huge, lush and NZ download of the week:
vibrant – an interesting contrast to their first single “Enemy,” which was built on a Rolling
Two Cartoons Tiny Terrors
Stones-esque acoustic guitar riff, perhaps show-
SOPHIE - Hard
casing the versatility of the band's songwriting.
SOPHIE is the stage name for a mysterious producer based in London. Known for his colourful visual style and innovative, fresh take on dance,
Far South Records; 2013 Punk, Alternative
The Growlers - Good Advice
trap, and electronic music. “Hard” is a jagged,
The Growlers are a five-piece based
rhythmic, hip-hop influenced, dance track. With
in Orange County, USA. Their sound
quirky guitar lines and glittering synths executed
is a mixture of folk, surf and psychedelic rock,
over trash can drum beats. It is a fun and sinister
T
recalling a little bit the sound of the first psy-
sounding offering from the UK enigma.
punk revelry and overall fun and good vibes. You
wo Cartoons are Dunedin pop heroes Isaac McFarlane and Brad Craig, who, as of this year, are based in London. Their
music is a mixture of summery indie-pop, pop-
chedelic era during the late 60s. Self-described
can download both their EPs for free from their
as “Beach Goth,” the band’s new track “Good
bandcamp page, twocartoons.bandcamp.com,
Advice,” Brooks Neilsen's voice is as raspy as
which is an extremely generous proposition
ever, crooning about loneliness. You can sort
indeed. They are currently finishing up their new
of imagine him brooding in the faded morning
album. Look out for them at the end of the year as
sun, looking apathetically out across the ocean
they are expected to be making a homecoming
and kind of, like, just sighing.
this summer.
Allison Crutchfield - YoU Allison Crutchfield is better known as the lead vocalist for New York punk band Swearin'. The track “You,” however, comes
Mr Twin Sister - Blush
from her new solo EP Lean Into It. Drawing more
Mr. Twin Sister is a five-piece dream-pop/chill-
from 90s pop and bringing to mind artists such
wave band based in Long Island, New York. The
as Liz Phair and Alanis Morissette, the song is
single, “Blush,” is from their upcoming, self-titled
melodic with an interestingly immersive chorus,
album. Having drawn comparisons to acts such
the hook containing just the one word, “you”
as Cocteau Twins and Portishead, Mr. Twin Sister
– the only word it seems that can sum up the
is a little more laid back. Well, with this track they
frustration of the romantic situation taking place
certainly are anyway. The production is on the
within the track. The production is lo-fi, laid
lighter side of dream-pop, or trip-hop – quite
back, and charming. It is a beautiful bedroom
minimalist and lush. Andrea Estalla's soulful
recording, with fuzzy guitar and some well-ex-
voice is definitely captivating, as the song gently
ecuted piano lines.
unravels itself through waves of feathery synth.
38 | Issue 20 Critic
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Tue 19 August Quiz Night (from 7pm, Free Entry + Great Prizes) THU 21 August Opposite Sex (Live from 9.30pm)
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Fri 22 August BlueStone Live (from 9:30pm) SUN 24 August
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MUS I C
FKA Twigs A+ LP1 Young Turks (UK); 2014 R&B, Pop
"
I love another, and thus I hate myself,”
clutter, and how to be a better piano or bass
at the insecurities of having sex in full view
player, everything. You can have big aspirations,
of each other. This track is followed by album
but then you realise your skill level or your in-
highlight “Two Weeks,” a green eyed, sensual,
securities are holding you back. So you start to
sexual, trip-hop ballad. “I can fuck you better
hate yourself, because it's so frustrating!” Barnett
than her,” Twigs croons. Reaching the climax
expresses in an interview with Carrie Battan.
with a masterful, sweeping bridge that references
Tahliah Barnett (FKA Twigs) chants over the
Air Supply.
first two minutes of LP1. Her delivery is bold.
You can hear the meticulousness, produc-
Her voice warped and affected. Layer upon layer,
tion-wise. The jagged percussion, panned left
“Pendulum” is the other major centrepiece of the
resembling a sort of Kate Bush, alien choir. If
to right, slicing in, out and across, through a
album, with Barnett's subtle delivery, traversing
there is a phrase or message that conveys the es-
sleek mixture of bass synth, digital effects and
and ultimately transcending a soundscape of
sence of this album, it’s this wrenching mantra.
acoustic instruments. Her voice tender, strong,
sharp, wooden, staccato percussion. “I'm a sweet
heavily produced but still dripping with emo-
little love maker,” she sighs, as an ethereal array
You can almost feel the potent insecurity under-
tion – almost as if she is retreating behind an
of synthesisers swoop and swell around her.
pinning those words. Laid open, shameless and
otherworldly mask.
bare. Heart-breaking in its tragic bluntness. It's
Clocking in at just over 40 minutes in length,
not quite the type of self-loathing or self-hatred
If you look at the image that graces the front
LP1 is an insular pop album. Unique in terms of
that cripples, however, but one that continues
of LP1, you'll find yourself locking eyes with a
its blending of sounds, highlighted by Barnett's
to strive, almost as if hounding some unattain-
rather peculiar portrait of Barnett. Her presence
own voice. It is down-tempo, yet immersive and
able sense of perfection. This is not your typical,
is almost doll-like, from that strange sheen on
bombastic. It's epic, but intimate. Fragmented
slightly pathetic, pity party, angst-for-the-sake-
her left cheek, to that cold, vacant stare. A feeling
but still strangely cohesive.
of-it kind of deal. Instead these feelings seem to
of artifice radiates from her cold, gleaming face.
be seeded from a brutal, unrelenting ambition
The almost alien-like nature of it emphasis-
“Is she that girl from the video?” Twigs sings
and a constant need for self-betterment.
ing the shell Barnett must become in order to
on the song “Video Girl,” referencing her earlier
conceal herself.
claim to fame as a backup dancer in pop music
“I love my music, so I want to produce, write,
videos. This record cements Tahliah Barnett's
and serve my music. I've had to learn about EQ
“When I trust you we can do it with the lights
place as someone whose talent reaches far
frequencies, and programming, and space, and
on” she sings on “Lights On,” an interesting look
beyond that.
B-
White Fence For The Recently Found Innocent Drag City (USA); 2014 Pop, Rock
G
through a warm, beautifully mastered mix. However, as a whole, For the Recently Found Innocent underwhelms. Poor sequencing was a problem and the album feels directionless and derivative. Will I be playing this on repeat? No.
entle, psychedelic rock music with some
But it’s definitely worth a shot if you’re looking
great guitar moments – the penultimate
for something understated, inoffensive and full
track “Raven on White Cadillic” really
of lo-fi charm.
shines. Frontman Tim Presley sounds like a
world-weary Syd Barrett, nightingale-singing
By Oscar Francis | @CriticTeArohi
Critic Issue 20 | 39
b oo k s
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
BOOKS EDITOR: Laura Starling | BOOKS@CRITIC.CO.NZ
Every moment and interaction was exactly as
and maybe the scenery doesn’t leave you with
I expected. Yes we know from the outset that
any great memories; I seriously doubt it. Human
Anges is to die but that doesn’t mean that the
experiences are hardly ever so blankly gratu-
am a wide reader, and will read just about
story leading up to the point has to be all spelled
itous. Fiction has the power to delve into aspects
anything; I have even been known to read
out. As I started reading I began to set up a bingo
of humanity that we normally gloss over. Kent’s
the phone book in those moments of bib-
game of clichéd predictable moments and soon
book, however, only explores its characters on a
liographic desperation. Hannah Kent’s debut
found my card full. There’s the gruff, lewd guard
purely superficial level. There never seems to be
novel Burial Rites, however, finally stumped me.
and company, the thwarted love interest with
any development in the layers of the story. The
I have had no motivation to read this book. Zip.
a curious desire to suck Anges’ fingers. Oh and
whole book is focused on the execution while
Nada. Zilcharooney. On paper Burial Rites should
how could we forget the inquisitive child who
pretending to be distracted by the day-to-day
have become a new favourite: it’s historical fic-
befriends the wretched woman. Kent’s novel
moments that comprise the bulk of the book.
tion, it is set in Iceland, it has weird names that
followed convention so closely that there was no
any linguist should appreciate. Despite its paper
room left for the reader’s imagination.
I
credentials this book just never hooked me.
In spite of all my issues with this book, the author has won an award and other people have
In many historical fiction novels, the authors
enjoyed it too. As an example of historical fiction
Set in the freezing farmland of 1800s Iceland
try to draw the reader in with the nitty gritty
it is accurate in detail but lacking in the execution
the plot retells a real historical event from a black
of life in that time. Sometimes this works and
(pun totally intentional). I think that Kent has
sheep’s point of view. The murderer Anges
the reader gains a new appreciation for the
tried to please the reality of the history too much
Magusdottir was the last prisoner in Iceland
historical background, but in Kent’s case it all
and neglected the reality of the fictional world
to be executed for their crime, and the novel
felt clichéd. From the descriptions of landscape,
in doing so. Overall it is not an engaging read
is Kent’s attempt to fill a historical story with
of sex, of farm life, nothing seemed original. All
but not a difficult read either. Big words, small
fictional empathy for Anges. I am not saying
the characters felt like stock characters without
chapters, yet I still could hardly drag myself to
that the real Anges should have/shouldn’t have
their own individuality. The setting as well did
the finish. At best it is a procrastination read, the
died, but it is very difficult to get a reader to re-
not leave me with a sense of having lived in
sort of book that only becomes readable when
main engaged when the moment they open the
Iceland with the characters. I have never been
there’s a test in the morning.
book they know the protagonist is going to die.
to Iceland in real life. Perhaps people there really
Everything about this book was so predictable.
are leftover cast members from Les Miserables
By Imogen Davis | @CriticTeArohi
animal cruelty cases; working to strengthen
and this year’s Animal Law Week has been one of
anti-cruelty laws; encouraging the American
our most ambitious ever. We’ve had superb guest
government to enforce existing animal protec-
lectures on “An Introduction to the New Zealand
tion laws; and providing public education.
Animal Welfare Act” and on “Research on Marine Mammals and the Law,” a meet-and-greet with
Part of their work also saw the creation of many
famed Australian judge the Honourable Michael
SALDF chapters, which as the name suggests are
Kirby, a fitness class fund-raiser at UNIPOL in
law student groups that are affiliated with the
support of the SPCA, some student-run seminars,
Animal Legal Defense Fund and share its mission
and we even teamed up with the Otago University
rom 4–8 August the University of Otago
to protect the lives and advance the interests of
Veganism and Animal Rights Society for a vegan
chapter of the Student Animal Legal
animals through the legal system.
lunch and documentary screening.
Law Week 2014.” You may have noticed some
Most SALDF chapters are located in the United
Otago SALDF would like to thank all those who
of our posters around campus, especially in the
States and Canada. This Otago chapter, found-
attended our events and helped make this year’s
vicinity of Richardson Building. You may even
ed in 2010, is unique in that it is one, if not the
Animal Law Week our best ever. We also wish to
have gone to a few of our events. But who exactly
only, chapter of SALDF outside of North America,
thank Nicola Wheen, Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere,
are SALDF? And what do we do?
something we are incredibly proud of as we come
Michael Kirby, the Otago University Faculty of
to the end of our fifth year. Our aim is to help
Law, UNIPOL staff, Otago VARS and Dunedin SPCA
To answer that question we must go back to 1979,
protect animals in New Zealand through the law
for their work and support in the organising and
not in New Zealand, but in the United States of
and make sure they are fairly represented in the
running of Animal Law Week events. Also our
America. There, legal professionals who were
legal system. We do this in a number of ways,
special thanks go to Danielle Duffield, Otago
active in shaping the then-emerging field of
including: hosting guest speakers; attending
SALDF's founder, who has since graduated from
animal law founded the Animal Legal Defense
workshops; documentary screenings; and holding
Otago and moved to work in Auckland.
Fund (ALDF). ALDF has since worked to protect
student-run seminars on animal welfare issues.
animals through the law in a variety of ways,
However, our busiest time of the year is our an-
If you would like to know more about Otago
including: filing lawsuits to stop animal abuse;
nual “Animal Law Week,” where we dedicate a
SALDF please join us on Facebook.
expanding the boundaries of animal law; provid-
week to hosting events and seminars to spread
ing free legal assistance to prosecutors handling
animal law issues across campus and beyond,
Animal Law Week 2014
F
Defense Fund (SALDF) hosted “Animal
40 | Issue 20 Critic
Column by Christian Hardy | @CriticTeArohi
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C O L UM N S
Mind control
A
body and darker back to avoid drawing attention
a giant fungal stalk will shortly erupt out of her
to himself. But on this fateful day, he’s doing the
head. This fungus is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis,
opposite – rising to the surface, splashing and ex-
and once it has eaten our ant from the inside out
posing his reflective underside; the perfect target
and given her what looks like some sort of avant
for a hungry bird. So why is he doing it? Because
garde hat, the stalk will explode, showering fungal
the trematode Euhaplorchis californiensis wants
spores over the rest of her colony. These newly
him to. This trematode, like many parasites, has
infected “zombie ants” will climb to the underside
a life cycle that is dependent on several hosts.
of a north facing leaf, 25cm off the ground, bite the
Firstly, the larva swims around until it’s eaten
main vein ... I think you get the idea.
fish splashes around a saltwater
by a horn snail. That snail is then a snack for our
At this point, we’re not too hopeful for our
marsh in California, its silvery flank
killifish, and while it’s being digested, the parasite
mouse. Why does it stop being afraid of cats?
flashing like a mirror in the sunshine.
makes its way along a nearby nerve and into the
Because Toxoplasma gondii wants him to be eat-
An ant quietly slips away from its colony in the
brain cavity. Here, it forms cysts, which make the
en. How does it do it? Mind control. Healthy mice
canopy of a Thai forest. And a mouse in New
fish shimmy like it’s the 90s – an easy feed for a
have a strong aversion to cat pee, but infected
Zealand suddenly loses its fear of cats. All of
shore bird. Once eaten, the parasite reproduces in
mice will practically bathe in the stuff, allowing
these animals are the victims of mind control.
the bird’s intestines and releases eggs in the poo.
the parasite to make it to the next host, the cat.
These eggs will be picked up by a snail, which will
But remember when I said your English teacher
be eaten by killifish, and the cycle will re-start.
wasn’t infested with brain parasites? Well, I might
Remember the Animorphs book series? With the slug-like Yeerks that got inside your brain and treated people like giant finger puppets?
Think the killifish is alone in its peril? Think
be wrong; about 25 per cent of New Zealanders
As much as I loved those books, I knew that my
again. Spiny ants aren’t, by nature, particularly
have been infected with Toxoplasma at some
bitchy English teacher wasn’t really infested with
rebellious animals, so when a lone ant wanders
point – if you’re healthy, there aren’t any symp-
a mind-controlling parasite – but some members
off, you should be intrigued to know that she
toms, but considering that the effects persist in
of the animal kingdom aren’t so lucky.
will travel to the underside of a north-facing leaf,
mice even after infection, it might explain why
Such as that unfortunate fish. Normally, he
about 25cm off the ground. Once there, she will
we like cats so much … That’s science, bitches!
would stay away from the water’s surface, out of
bite the main vein of the leaf and stay there for
sight of predators; he would use his streamlined
the rest of her life – which won’t be long, since
By Elsie Jacobson | @ScienceBitches_
“homosexual offenders.” I was recently in Tonga
seem an exciting place for evangelical Christians
where homosexual acts between two men is pun-
from places like America,” says Marc Epprecht, a
ishable by up to 10 years in prison or perhaps even
Canadian academic who studies homosexuality
a whipping! Seeing this kind of oppression makes
in Africa, as quoted by the Economist. “They can
me feel guilty because I cannot fully enjoy my own
make much bigger gains in their culture wars
freedom while others are subject to this injustice.
there than they can in their own countries.”
Poor Queers
Furthermore I feel guilt as it is through
Clearly my guilt is not useful for me or for
colonialism that many anti-homosexual laws
those oppressed by draconian laws. So what can
were propagated throughout the world and have
I do? Firstly I need to avoid the many pitfalls that
like to think that I give a crap about people
remained on country’s statute books. Some 80
would lead to me repeating the mistakes of my
living in poverty. I give monthly to charities,
countries still criminalise consensual homosex-
ancestors. I need to avoid imposing Western
I sign petitions, I educate myself and try to
ual sex. Over half of these rely on “sodomy” laws
concepts of what it means to be sexuality, sex
help educate others. I am pretty much a saint,
left over from British colonialism leading to crim-
and gender diverse. I need to avoid the white
but I don’t know what to do to help queers in
inalisation in 40 of the 53 Commonwealth states.
saviour complex of trying to “save” those from
poor countries.
Some are now trying to make their laws even
less developed societies.
I
I sometimes wonder what motivates me to
more repressive. Last year, Burundi's president,
What I need to do is give money and sup-
try. I know that one explanation for why I try and
Pierre Nkurunziza, signed a law criminalising
port to grassroots campaigns in these countries
help poor people is white guilt. I have studied
consensual gay sex.
working for social and political change in their
history and politics, therefore I know a bit about
Finally I feel guilty as a Christian when
societies. I need to tell my friends and family
how historic events have led to massive fiscal
Christianity is one of the major driving forces
about the work of these groups and get their
imbalances in the world. I know about colonial-
that maintains anti-homosexual laws and even
support as well. I need to encourage my govern-
ism and wars for resources. I know about the
supports those pushing for laws to go further.
ment to accept people seeking asylum because
slave trade and illegal resource extraction. I know
According to gay-rights campaigner Peter
of their sexuality or gender identity. I need to
that as someone living in a “First World” nation,
Tatchell, conservative religious groups are im-
advocate for better education of the challenges
I directly benefit from all this historical injustice.
porting politicised homophobia into Africa. The
faced by queer people everywhere. These things
I also have guilt as a “liberated queer.” I feel
Ugandan MP who proposed the “Kill the Gays” Bill
will make the world a better place.
guilty when I see the likes of Uganda passing
is a member of The Fellowship, a conservative
laws that could lead to the death sentence for
American Christian organisation. “Africa must
42 | Issue 20 Critic
By Sir Lloyd Queerington | queer@critic.co.nz
C O L UM N S
11.30 p.m. each weeknight.
front of the audience, but being backstabbing,
The Larry Sanders Show splits its time
awkward, or generally rude in-person. Especially
between behind-the-scenes goings-on of the
impressive was the calibre of celebrity that this
production of the Larry’s talk show, and the talk
small cable sitcom was able to attract over its
show itself. The former are shot on film (the way
seven-year run, including Jennifer Anniston,
we're used to seeing fiction shot) and follow
Alec Baldwin, Hugh Hefner, and Sean Penn, and
Larry, the vain, aging host, and the others who
many more names that were surely impressive
work on the show’s staff. The talk show sections
in the 90s but have since been left behind. The
are shot like a real talk show: on videotape and in
show’s illusion was also upheld in terms of mu-
he Larry Sanders Show is set in a very
front of a live audience. The disconnect between
sical guests, featuring performances by Sting,
particular time and place, namely the
what goes on when the cameras are rolling and
Butthole Surfers, Warren Zevon (who gets forced
world of US late-night talk shows be-
when they aren’t highlights that the kind of
into playing ‘Werewolves of London’ after initially
tween 1992 and 1998, when the show was airing.
charisma it takes to host television isn't the same
refusing), and the Wu Tang Clan.
The formula has remained largely unchanged for
as real-life charm. To the audience at home,
As well as being a fascinating (at least, fas-
decades now: a man (it’s always a man) wears a
tired after a long day, Larry is a breezy, funny
cinating to freaks like me) time capsule of US
suit, and sits behind a desk for an hour, telling
man, making slightly-hacky, topical jokes and
celebrity culture in the 90s, and a detailed look
topical jokes, and charming celebrity guests. The
engaging in light banter with famous people.
at the world of US late night talk shows, The Larry
order of the segments goes: Monologue (host
But off-stage, Larry is a neurotic, preening man
Sanders Show is a hilarious, uncompromising
stands), titles, comedic sketch or segment (host
desperate for validation, friendly only to those he
satire of Hollywood and the personalities it both
sits), first celebrity interview, comedy sketch,
needs to impress, and surrounded by a staff who
selects for and breeds. Further, it provides an
second celebrity interview, musical act (some-
similarly bow to him or not depending which
idea of the kind of fireworks that occur when
times stand-up), closing credits. Any variation
way his head is turned.
those personalities come into conflict, a display
The Larry Sanders Show
T
from this formula would be seen to disrespect
Although now commonplace, The Larry
the format’s rich history. In the world of The
Sanders Show was ahead of its time, having
Larry Sanders Show, Larry Sanders is one of the
fictionalised versions of real-life celebrity
big talk-show hosts, airing against Letterman,
guest-stars engage in the same two-facedness
Leno, and Arsenio Hall, following the formula at
as Larry, maintaining a charming persona in
only stifled by the sedative presence of cameras and an audience.
By Sam Fleury | @TooMuchScreens
Are you interested in flatting in 2015 with International students from all over the world? If you are - applications are now being accepted for Kiwi Hosting in 2015 Call into the Uni Flats Office @ 105 St David Street for an Application Pack
For further information: croisella.trengrove@otago.ac.nz otago.ac.nz/uniflats Critic Issue 20 | 43
LETTERS
phase diminished when a girl surprised me on
On Gender Identity
an icy paper run and I fell and broke my hand. The influence of pain on my face has been noted.
Dear Critic,
“She’s home, she’s not working,” said the boy
Letter of the week The letter of the week wins a $25 book voucher from the University Book Shop.
Popularity waxes and wanes Dear Critic,
next door as I returned from the pool. Neighbours
Recently I have heard people talk more
inquire who my visitors are, and when the male
and more often about "gender identity". But
sexist insults stop, from some Internet stuff no
since when did "gender/gender identity" mean
one ever shows me, there is many a girl utters
anything and more importantly how does this
“mad,” “crazy” or, the bleeding obvious, “old,”
concept help anyone? The concept of gender
though Robin Williams, a year younger, was
identity disgusts me. The idea that being a man
defined as “middle aged!” Being cold doesn’t
or a woman means that you choose to dress, act
help my mood. I’ll be warm next April, when
or think in a certain way is wrong. The gender
the pension comes. But now I’ve chucked the
identity concept implies that there are person-
squeaky yoga mattress can the vigilante find
ality types for either sex and if your personal-
another cause? He was up and down the fence
ity type does not match your sex then genital
in great excitement every time I did my yoga. For
mutilation is a perfectly acceptable response. I
diving, springboard diving son. Try that.
propose however, that gender identity should
What is the dealio with the lack of anal
not exist. That we all have different personalities
bleaching these days?
Yours faithfully,
which are completely separate from our sex and
Sue Heap
that they are all okay.
Yours faithfully, Rudolph the BrownNosed Reindeer
Caaaat Daaaamon
In New Zealand we have children aged 6 and
Do people still know who Marc Ellis is?
7 being told that they were born the wrong sex. How does this help these children? Stop endorsing the idea of gender identity and encouraging
G'day
the parents of the future to tell their children that
I enjoyed the "Bizarre cultural practices and
they have two boxes of toys to choose from and
Dear critic,
local traditions" piece by Laura Starling in the
if they pick the wrong box then they were born
I feel like we're drifting apart. If you loved me
latest critic. A bit of useless trivia that people
wrong. Let them be boys who like playing with
you'd have more cats. Preferably wearing lasers.
may or may not be interested in, is that scarfie
Barbie's and girls who like playing with trucks
I just really need to see a commitment from you
legend/ex all black Marc Ellis actually won the
who are fine just the way they are.
on this one.
cheese rolling thing in 2004. He was actually the
Yours?
first crazy person down the hill after the cheese.
Sincerely,
Old mate Matthew Ridge came 3rd. Yeah.
A guy who identifies as a person.
Cat Damon Fukn Jez o+<]:
Privacy struggles
That’s all you could come up with?
Get
who the fuck decides to hang out at refuel (re-
The Editor,
garding some lame ass article on active shooters)
Critic.
Fuck. That cunt "fukn jez" is a batty boy, taking
Dear Sir,
john keys sausage sizzle serious as fuck? Get
Shoot that writer.
outta town. I bet he doesn't even drink spirits; Hang on a minute Zane. You’re outraged at street
what a pussy.... Who vents their opinion to a
cameras invading privacy? Remember Facebook
student magazine anyway? As if people give a
abolished it? I’ve been photographed and moni-
fuck. Fuck you critic.
tored for about six years. I thought the paparazzi LETTERS POLICY Letters should be 200 words or fewer. Deadline is Thursday at 5pm. Send letters to critic@critic.co.nz, post them to PO Box 1436, Dunedin, or drop into the Critic office. All letters must include full contact details, even if you don’t want these printed. Letters of a serious nature directly addressing a specific person or group will not be published under a pseudonym, except in extraordinary circumstances negotiated with the Editor. Critic reserves the right to edit, abridge or decline letters without explanation. We don’t fix the spelling or grammar in letters. If a writer looks stupid, it’s because they are.
44 | Issue 20 Critic
We didn’t get it While we will not be repeating either anytime
Get around me.
soon, me and my flatmates can't decide what
Chunky Pat
was more boring? Actually going to see a pile of
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LETTERS
junk at the art gallery or reading a review about
families of the workers" that is bullshit
it in the Critic ad nauseum. Lucky that neither
don't lie
cost us a dime... love emily.
IM TISSED OFF
that's all i can think of right now.
Otago Combined Christian Groups service on campus The theme will be “Who is Jesus?” Main Common Room, University Union building 7pm Tuesday 19th August All welcome Supper provided otagoccg.co.nz fb.com/events/743087789071056/
Dear Critic, You requested pissed off rants and here I am, well and truly pissed. AT THE kyriarchy. Cos we're not just fighting the patriarchy anymore. I am the honey badger also WHy don't more people know about the Church of Yeezus
Te Roopu Maori Te Huinga Tauira Kapahaka dress rehearsal Fundraiser
I feel like what we got as Otago has the potential to be better than Kanye but I'm not an arts student so I wouldn't really have the intellectual capacity to judge
I can haz Letters? Have a great uni break.
that (or WOULD I????) people are going to die and we are going to rule. Also global warming is caused by emily and annabelle cos we are hot. I'm pissed off that 3 community 19/03/14 8:05 people don'tZentech.pdf support the local and
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Critic Issue 20 | 45
L OV E I S B L I N D
Love is Blind Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email critic@critic.co.nz. But be warned – if you dine on the free food and dash without sending us a writeup, a Critic writer will write one under your name. And that won’t end well for you.
I
Dane Cross ’ve never really been on a date before. All my previous romantic endeavours have been in that time-honoured New Zealand tradition of first becoming friends and then throwing alcohol and sex into the mix.
But if every date were as funny and charming as mine was on Thursday,
Faye Reagan
A
week before turning 23, in what I can only put down to being a pre-quarter-life crisis, I allowed my flatties to sign me up for the Critic blind date. So it was with a bit of lipstick and liquid courage
that I made my way to Di Lusso to meet my fresher soul mate.
and also came with a free bar tab, I’d try and do it every night of the week. I was feeling pretty apprehensive about the whole thing as I sheltered
Instead, I found myself face to face with an attractive fifth-year with an
in an alley down from Di Lusso and hastily drank a final beer for confidence.
accent. Well, this was unexpected. Cracking straight into it, we guessed
However, I needn’t have worried; my date immediately distinguished herself
each other’s degrees, myself assuming he was a music kid based on his
as a woman of class and distinction by showing an appreciation for whisky
fashion sense and then being slightly embarrassed when he was in fact a
and agreeing that we should spend more of the tab on drinks than food. We
Law major who was also from Wellington. I was impressed when he went
guessed one another’s majors (Commerce and Religious Studies) and found
straight for the whisky and relieved we were both on the same page when
out we were both from Wellington with all the mutual acquaintances that
it came to the bar tab – spend the minimum amount on food and as much
that entails, who will no doubt find this all pretty amusing. I was impressed
as possible on alcohol.
by my date’s ability to mix her liquors as she went through some fancy rum cocktail, a White Russian (although she’d never seen the Big Lebowski), as
I knew I was in for a good night when I mentioned the need to make up
well as double Gin and Tonics and some whisky.
an outrageous report, to which he replied, “or we could just have a bit of
By this time we’d drunk away the bar tab, which seemed like the
fun and not have to make it up …” Point noted. So, back to my flat, it was
appropriate moment to head back to hers stopping only to pocket the
in order to down a Scrumpy and play a bit of pong and vinyl – but I should
left over cheese and crackers from Di Lusso. We played some beer pong
probably cut to the whole reason people read this article, shouldn’t I?
and though I may have some talents, hand-eye coordination is not one of them – even at the soberest of times – and I was comprehensively beaten
Surprisingly, given how intoxicated we both were, it took him all of two
by her flatmates. We retreated to her bedroom to listen to some records
seconds to flip me over and start strong and hard with my favourite
whereupon not only was my date kind enough to sit on my face but she
position – enough for me to reach the famous “O.” I tip my hat or, in this
also proceeded to fuck and suck me with a skill and enthusiasm normally
case, I’ll throw a blow job/69er in the mix for any guy that can make me
reserved for couples on their wedding nights or soldiers returning from war.
bite my pillow that hard. So after all the fun, and a quick exchange of
And so after a thoroughly enjoyable evening I left my date with my phone
numbers, my soul mate went on his way. Cheers Critic for the hookup.
number and a mouthful of DNA and wandered drunk and happy into the night. Thanks Critic, thanks Di Lusso, thanks Obama and, most of all, thanks to my date.
46 | Issue 20 Critic
and oversight of welfare affairs and to
Facebook group just to keep up with what we are
ensure the welfare needs of students
up to as a committee. I will also be posting what I
are represented, respected and
(But Payal, what are you doing NOW?)
do this is if YOU tell me your trials and tribulations
- Teacup Club for ladies along with the
Please get in touch with any ideas, questions, comments or problems you may have so I can improve your welfare while studying. My email is welfare@ousa.org.nz so it’s super easy to
But Payal, what does the OUSA Welfare Officer
others who are keen with the Disabilities Rep Stacey Edwards - Running the Welfare Committee
something pop up that concerns you, just get
- Hump Day Help giveaways to help you through your Wednesday
If you are keen to have your say on welfare
Hi, I’m Payal, your friendly Welfare Officer.
Womens Rep Jasmine Chalmers - Be Able for students with disabilities and
remember! If you’ve got any issues or have seen in touch.
President’s Column
have been working on as Welfare Officer
enhanced. The best way for me to
Planning for a Disability Awareness Day and
matters around uni, come along to the awesome
Womens Week is currently under way too – get
Welfare Committee meetings and join the
in touch if you’re keen to help out with these. A
Facebook group. It’s easy: Just look up OUSA
Welfare Drop In session will start in a few weeks
Welfare Committee on Facebook - the meetings
and run fortnightly – I’d love to meet you!
will be posted there. Food is provided! Come along and share your ideas with other passionate people.
even do? I’m responsible for the co-ordination
You can also join the OUSA Welfare Committee
Much Love, Payal Ramritu
Enrol to Vote by Wednesday August 20! After August 20 you’ll have to place a special vote in the General Election. Make it easy! Enrol now at elections.org.nz or pop into the OUSA Main Office or Radio One and we’ll help you get it sorted out.
Sign up NOW for the 2014 University Snow Games! The bus leaves Sunday 24 August, see the OUSA Recreation Centre for more info or call 0800 365 964. Woo! Competitive cold sport time!
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